Govt develops new system to monitor medical equipment
The government has developed a digital data management system to boost medical device oversight across the health sector.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the Ministry of Health revealed that the system was designed to improve tracking and coordination of medical device information at both national and county levels.
The system also captures real-time inventory data and monitors maintenance schedules for essential equipment, including ultrasound machines, X-ray units, and dialysis machines.
Further, the ministry stated that the system has been piloted in Nyeri and Makueni counties, where approximately 1,400 medical devices have been recorded.
“Hosted on Ministry of Health servers, the platform is set to be integrated into the Ministry’s Digital Health Superhighway under the Health Data Authority (HDA), supporting efforts to streamline health infrastructure management and ensure better service delivery,” read the statement.
This comes after the government launched the Kenya Electronic National Vaccine and Immunisation Portal (KeNVIP) electronic management platform.
Speaking during the launch on May 14, 2025, at Afya House Nairobi, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale stated that the platform will increase decision-making, visibility, traceability, accountability, and effectiveness in service delivery as well as prepare to migrate to the government data centre.
He revealed that the government has invested USD 16 million in the KeNVIP initiative in the primary healthcare sector.
Cold Chain Equipment (CCE)
The CS also flagged off 2,000 Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) in partnership with the World Bank and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
“Immunisation is one of the pillars of primary healthcare and a powerful driver of public health, and yet for vaccines to work, they must be kept at precise temperatures from manufacture to administration,” he said.
Additionally, the CS stated that the solar and electric cold chain refrigerators and additional equipment like cold boxes and monitors are an investment in health security and resilience.
“I urge every parent and caregiver across the country to take full advantage of the expanded access to vaccines that are safe and more accessible than ever before. Together, let’s protect our children and secure a healthier future for our nation,” the CS said.
The equipment will be delivered to all 47 counties, especially in hard-to-reach areas, to improve access to immunisation services, which are a vital part of primary health care and a cornerstone of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
