East Africa’s hospitals turn to AI and digital tools to transform healthcare
East Africa’s healthcare sector is moving beyond digital health pilots towards wider adoption of artificial intelligence, telemedicine and hospital management systems as providers seek to improve efficiency and expand access to care.
The shift is creating a growing market for technology companies, medical equipment suppliers and investors, with hospitals increasingly looking for practical digital solutions that can improve patient management, diagnostics, claims processing and resource planning.
The trend will take centre stage at the World Health Expo (WHX) Nairobi 2026, which will bring healthcare providers, technology companies, distributors and investors to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) from September 16 to 18.
More than 5,500 attendees and 200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries are expected at the 10th edition of the healthcare exhibition.
The event comes as Kenya accelerates the implementation of its digital health agenda, with the government rolling out systems aimed at connecting patients, hospitals, insurers and other players across the healthcare ecosystem.
The Digital Health Act, 2023 established the Digital Health Agency and provided a framework for integrated health information systems, digital services and health data governance.
The Ministry of Health is also advancing initiatives including the Health Information Exchange, electronic claims processing, the SHA Registration Portal, AfyaYangu and digital hospital management systems.
Dr Anne Musuva, CEO of the Kenya Healthcare Federation, said the reforms were opening opportunities to improve access, efficiency and quality of healthcare.
For hospitals, the focus is increasingly shifting from simply acquiring technology to determining how it can deliver measurable improvements.
AI-powered tools, for instance, can assist with medical imaging and laboratory decision-making, while electronic health records can improve continuity of care by making patient information more accessible across healthcare facilities.
Hospital management systems can also help facilities improve patient flow, claims processing, inventory management and resource allocation.
The opportunity extends beyond Kenya, with other East African countries also investing in digital healthcare infrastructure.
Ethiopia’s Digital Health Blueprint 2021–2030 prioritises interoperability, digital infrastructure and greater use of health data. Ethiopia Health Connect is also expected to expand teleconsultation and digital health services to more than 30 million people.
However, infrastructure remains a major hurdle to wider adoption across the region.
Unreliable electricity, limited access to devices and inadequate broadband connectivity continue to constrain digital health deployment, creating demand for systems that can operate under challenging conditions.
Technology providers that offer solutions capable of working with variable bandwidth, supporting offline operations, integrating with national platforms and protecting patient data could therefore have an advantage as adoption expands.
The sector is also attracting investment. Data from Briter, cited in a 2026 regional health-tech review, shows East African startups attracted $865 million between January and August 2025, with about $150 million going to health technology.
WHX Nairobi will showcase eight product sectors, including IT and digital health solutions, covering areas such as AI diagnostics, electronic medical records, telemedicine, connected medical devices and health data systems.
“Kenya’s healthcare sector is rapidly adopting digital solutions, and September marks a key moment for the market,” said Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director–Healthcare at Informa Markets.
“WHX in Nairobi brings together AI diagnostics, telemedicine platforms and hospital technology providers with healthcare leaders during a procurement period.”
The event is being held under the patronage of Kenya’s Ministry of Health as healthcare providers increasingly shift their focus from testing digital solutions to deploying technologies at scale.
