World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) analyses highlight a significant opportunity for private investment to support Africa’s health infrastructure and services, as sub-Saharan Africa’s health expenditure continues to grow but remains below global benchmarks.
Kenya’s transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), alongside reforms in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda, is accelerating hospital investment in equipment, diagnostics and digital infrastructure.
The World Health Expo (WHX) in Nairobi will take place from 16–18 September 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), marking its 10th edition.
Kenya’s transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) is providing more than 3,000 healthcare facilities with a clear framework and timeline to modernize their equipment, digital systems and financing models in line with evolving reimbursement and service demands.
As SHA rolls out its Primary Healthcare Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund, and Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, the Ministry of Health reports that over 31 million Kenyans have registered under the scheme. Additionally, 11,034 health facilities have been contracted, and more than KES 147 billion has been paid out in claims since October 2024.
This scale of enrolment and reimbursement is giving hospitals greater visibility over patient volumes and funding flows, while setting defined timelines for upgrading diagnostics, equipment and digital systems to meet SHA’s financing and reporting requirements. Payments to primary care facilities are now based on verified patient visits rather than insurance status, while claims processing timelines have been reduced from 90 to 30 days. This shift is creating urgency for hospitals to upgrade diagnostics, information systems and revenue cycle management to align with SHA’s data-driven reimbursement model.
The World Health Expo (WHX) in Nairobi, scheduled for 16–18 September 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), is strategically positioned as a key platform where these financing reforms translate into concrete procurement decisions. The event will bring together suppliers, technology providers and hospital leaders ahead of the next budget cycle.
Now in its 10th edition—formerly Medic East Africa—WHX is held under the patronage of Kenya’s Ministry of Health and supported by the Kenya Healthcare Federation (KHF) and the Medical Technology Industry Association of Kenya (MEDAK). The event is expected to host more than 5,500 attendees, about 15% of whom will be international, alongside over 200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries. This represents a 22% year-on-year increase in exhibitors and strong regional interest.
The exhibition space has expanded to 4,500 square metres net, reflecting an 81% year-on-year growth. In 2025 alone, the event generated an estimated USD 84.19 million in business, underscoring its role as a catalyst for real contracts and investments in East Africa’s healthcare sector.
The SHA transition is part of a broader shift in healthcare financing across East Africa that is directly shaping procurement pipelines. Under SHA’s benefit packages, tariffs for services such as inpatient care, maternity, dialysis and oncology are now defined per case and per day. For example, inpatient per diem rates range between KES 3,500–5,000 at Levels 4–6, while maternity packages are set at KES 11,200 for normal delivery and KES 32,600 for Caesarean sections. MRI and CT scan reimbursements stand at KES 11,000 and KES 9,600 respectively.
These structured rates are pushing hospitals to invest in appropriate imaging, laboratory and digital systems to ensure services are accurately recorded and reimbursed.
Across the region, similar reforms are driving investment. In Ethiopia, Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) now covers over 64% of the population—approximately 54 million people—and more than 70% of households in participating areas. This expansion has been linked to increased facility revenues and improved investments in diagnostics, medicines and quality of care.
In Tanzania, the pharmaceutical import market was valued at approximately USD 1.08 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 1.55 billion by 2028, at an annual rate of about 7.6%. This growth is reshaping procurement needs for medicines, cold-chain infrastructure and IT-enabled inventory systems. Meanwhile, Uganda continues to invest in hospital infrastructure, even as health spending remains around 2% of GDP, driving demand for beds, medical devices and supply chain systems.
World Bank and WHO analyses indicate that private investment in African healthcare infrastructure must increase significantly to meet rising demand. WHX addresses this gap by showcasing solutions across eight product sectors—from medical devices and imaging to IT, digital health and laboratory diagnostics—at a time when hospitals must convert policy changes into procurement plans before the next financial cycle.
For hospital CEOs, COOs and procurement directors working within SHA and CBHI timelines, key priorities include imaging and diagnostics, revenue cycle systems, efficiency tools such as pharmacy automation and electronic medical records (EMRs), and capacity-expanding infrastructure. WHX provides a data-driven environment for buyers to compare solutions and close procurement gaps.
“Kenya’s transition to the SHA marks a decisive turning point for our national healthcare ecosystem. Healthcare facilities are under immediate pressure to adapt to new reimbursement structures, expanded benefit packages and digitized claims processing,” said Dr. Janki Chauhan, Chairperson of MEDAK.
“Across East Africa—from Ethiopia’s CBHI expansion to Tanzania’s pharmaceutical growth and Uganda’s infrastructure push—we see a shared imperative for modern medical solutions. WHX serves as a critical commercial hub where healthcare providers can connect directly with global suppliers, understand regulatory requirements and plan investments that will support more effective and sustainable healthcare delivery,” she added.
Across Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda, hospitals and procurement teams are operating under tight financing timelines. WHX in Nairobi provides a platform where they can meet suppliers, technology providers and distributors to address these demands ahead of the next budget cycle.
“Healthcare financing reforms across East Africa are no longer theoretical, they are actively reshaping hospital procurement in real time,” said Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director – Healthcare at Informa Markets.
“Kenya’s SHA rollout, Ethiopia’s CBHI expansion, Tanzania’s pharmaceutical sector growth and Uganda’s infrastructure investments are all driving urgent, time-sensitive procurement needs. WHX brings together hospital leaders, procurement managers, distributors and technology providers to align investment plans with these new funding models,” he added.
Coleman further noted that the WHX portfolio includes three major healthcare events across Africa—in Nairobi, Lagos and Johannesburg—creating a unified platform that connects global brands with regional distributors and gives East African hospitals greater visibility and choice as they plan for the future.
Registration for WHX is free for healthcare professionals, suppliers and procurement leaders. With SHA timelines advancing and regional reforms accelerating, the September event at KICC presents a critical window for stakeholders to assess financing changes and secure procurement decisions for the coming year.
