When the pandemic struck, the world slowed down, but the healthcare challenges sped up. With curfews, overwhelmed hospitals, and limited mobility, accessing healthcare felt like navigating a maze. Falling sick wasn’t just a worry—it was a gamble, a gamble with your life.
Yet, even amid the chaos, a new solution quietly stepped up to the plate: telehealth. Institutions like The Addis Clinic, Penda Health, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, and helplines like 1196 became lifelines, especially for expectant mothers and those with urgent needs.
But what happened to telehealth after the pandemic? Did it fade away like a temporary patch—or did it reshape healthcare for good?
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) transitioned from provisional approvals for telemedicine to issuing annual licenses, cementing its place in the healthcare ecosystem. By the end of 2023, nearly 7.5 million Kenyans had embraced digital health services, a 13.3% jump from 2022.
This shift isn’t just in numbers; it’s in value too. In 2023, the digital health market hit $101.6 million, with online doctor consultations seeing an 18.2% growth. The trend is clear—Kenyans prefer the convenience and accessibility of telemedicine.
Telehealth has proven to be more than a pandemic-era solution; it’s a cornerstone of Kenya’s healthcare evolution. As we look to the future, the question isn’t whether telehealth will grow—it’s how far it will take us in ensuring healthcare access for all.
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