By Grace Gilo
The Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide Biometric Health Identification and Verification System, a move expected to enhance efficiency and accountability in healthcare service delivery across the country.
The System, unveiled by the Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) journey.
It aims to ensure that all Kenyans have access to affordable, quality and dignified healthcare services, regardless of income or location.
The Biometric Verification Method, now active in all Level 4, 5 and 6 hospitals, including public, private and faith-based facilities, uses fingerprint authentication to verify patient identities. The rollout to Level 2 and 3 facilities is currently underway.
Speaking during the launch, CS Duale said the innovation would eliminate paperwork, reduce queues, curb fraud, and allow healthcare workers to spend more time with patients.
“This is a bold step in transforming healthcare. The Biometric System ensures that resources are used efficiently and patients receive timely care,” he said.
According to the Health CS, more than 25 million Kenyans have been registered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), with over 10,000 health facilities contracted. KUTRRH alone has submitted claims worth Sh1.4 billion and received reimbursements, totalling Sh1 billion, reflecting strong uptake of the new financing framework.
In addition to the Biometric System, Duale launched three other digital innovations: Practice360, the National Product Catalogue and the Health Information Exchange (HIE), that support the creation of a streamlined, technology-driven healthcare system.
The Practice360 App. allows healthcare professionals to manage pre-authorisation processes and approvals directly from their facilities. It replaces the OTP-based system and is geo-fenced to prevent unauthorised access.
“With immediate effect, SHA will no longer accept OTP based authorisation. All pre-approvals must be made through the Biometric Health ID or Practice360,” the CS authorized.
The National Product Catalogue, integrated with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, will ensure that only verified, quality-assured pharmaceuticals are dispensed. All suppliers must upload certified product data within 30 days or risk deregistration.
CS Duale further introduced the Health Information Exchange, which enables real-time, secure data sharing across facilities and counties. This will eliminate duplicate testing, ghost billing and physical paperwork.
Patients will no longer need to carry medical records across facilities, and those experiencing billing issues can report via the SHA call centre on 147.
“By digitising claims and data, we are making every shilling count. Every diagnosis and prescription will now be tracked in real time,” he added.
The Ministry also announced plans to operationalise a Track-and-Trace System to monitor pharmaceutical products from manufacturer to patient level. The tool will help curb counterfeiting and improve accountability in medicine distribution. Anchored in the Digital Health Act, the system is expected to strengthen transparency across the entire supply chain.
“This initiative will eliminate theft, ghost claims, and fraud in the public system. By November 2025, all public hospitals in Kenya will be fully digital,” Duale said.
Already, 24 counties are transitioning to the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), with full national rollout projected within the next 15 months.
Other senior health officials echoed the CS’s sentiments, emphasising the need for digital reforms to enhance service delivery and protect public resources.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, said the new system will ease administrative workloads for health workers, allowing them to focus more on delivering patient-centred care.
“Biometric verification ensures public funds go where they matter most into saving lives,” said Dr. Oluga.
Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth said the system would improve patient safety by linking the right care to the right patient.
“We are building a system that works with clarity, speed, and integrity,” he said.
SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi observed that biometric validation would eliminate fraudulent claims and impersonation challenges that have previously cost the health sector billions.
“Every health claim must now correspond to a real patient and a real medical event. This is how we restore trust in health financing,” she noted.
DHA CEO Eng. Antony Lenaiyara said the system is part of a broader national digital health agenda, which includes electronic health records, pharmacy integration, and the creation of a national health data exchange.
“Our vision is one patient, one record, one system accessible anywhere in Kenya,” he said.
Lenaiyara added that the agency is working closely with counties to ensure all health facilities are equipped with digital infrastructure, internet connectivity, and trained personnel.
KUTRRH Board Chairman, Senator Kembi Gitura, welcomed the launch, terming it a proud moment for the hospital. He thanked the Ministry for selecting the facility as the national launch site, noting it was a vote of confidence in its capabilities.
He urged the government to support the hospital’s efforts in enhancing its cancer treatment services and positioning itself as a regional medical hub.
“We want Kenyans to receive advanced treatment locally, without having to travel abroad,” Gitura said.
He added that the biometric launch marked a process, not an isolated event, and reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to becoming the country’s top referral centre.
“We are determined to make this the best referral hospital in the region,” he concluded.