This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
On November 18, 2021, M-Pesa Foundation and Gertrude's Hospital Foundation launched the Daktari Smart telemedicine program, aiming to provide specialist care to over 32,000 children in Samburu, Homabay, Baringo, and Lamu Counties.
The program, which will run for three years, aims to reduce the number of referrals of sick children by allowing county health facilities to have access to specialists. It will also optimize the capacity and reach of healthcare delivery systems.
According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, the doctor-to-patient ratio currently stands at about one doctor for every 6,355 people, leading to difficulties in getting access to a qualified medical professional. This ratio increases when it comes to specialists.
“Daktari Smart aims to address the delays in receiving adequate healthcare in rural and underserved areas through telemedicine. Patients who would otherwise have to spend a significant amount of time and money to travel long distances to urban areas to seek care, will now be able to receive specialist care from their local health facility,” said Michael Joseph, Chairman, M-PESA Foundation.
M-PESA Foundation has committed over Ksh168 million towards the initiative, while Gertrude's Hospital Foundation will invest over Ksh35 million in the next three years.
The Daktari Smart kit comprises electronic medical devices such as the Electronic Stethoscope, Vital Signs Monitor, Derma scope Camera, Ultrasound Machine, Otoscope, and the electrocardiogram (ECG) used to check the heart's rhythm and electrical activity.
Unlike conventional video conferencing, Daktari Smart allows the healthcare worker at the local partner health facilities to place the electronic medical devices on the patient, enabling the specialist at Gertrude's Children's Hospital to see the patient and hear the sounds in real-time without interpretation.
