Kenya’s healthcare system has struggled with inefficiencies for years, many of which stem from the adoption of digital solutions that do not fit our local context. When we founded Medbook in 2014, we set out to tackle a critical issue: the challenge of accessing patient medical records. With no centralized and reliable system, hospitals relied on fragmented, paper-based records, leading to delays, repeated tests, misdiagnoses, and an overall frustrating experience for doctors and patients. It became clear that Kenya needed healthcare solutions designed for its unique challenges, not off-the-shelf imports that fail to address our realities.
But here is the problem. Despite the push for digital transformation, many healthcare facilities continue to invest in systems that simply are not built for our healthcare landscape. Imported solutions, often seen as the gold standard, frequently fail to align with our regulations, infrastructure, and workflows. Worse still, they come with little to no local support—leaving hospitals stranded when technical issues arise. Instead of solving problems, these systems create new ones, leading to inefficiencies, financial losses, and an ever-widening gap in quality care.
That is where AphiaOne, Medbook’s hospital information management system, changes the game.
Unlike generic imported software, AphiaOne is built for Kenya by Kenyans. It is tailored to meet our healthcare regulations, address our challenges, and integrate seamlessly into our evolving medical landscape. This is not just about selling software; it is about transforming the way our healthcare facilities operate, making them more efficient, effective, and, most importantly, patient-centered.
Take Machakos County, for instance—the first county in Kenya to fully adopt AphiaOne as its hospital information management system. Across the county, hospitals are running smoother, pharmacy stock is managed in real-time, and patient care is faster and more accurate. The results? Increased revenue, reduced human error, and improved service delivery.
With 24/7 local support and a system built to adapt to our unique healthcare challenges, AphiaOne is proving that homegrown solutions are not just possible—they are essential. It is time to move away from foreign tech that does not understand our systems, regulations, or people and start investing in solutions that are made for us by us.
At Medbook, we believe the future of Kenyan healthcare lies in the hands of local innovators. Together, we can drive change, boost efficiency, and, most importantly, prioritize patient care.
The time for homegrown solutions is now. Let us build the healthcare system we deserve.