Kenyans are set to benefit from an artificial intelligence-powered clinical support tool that will prevent doctors from issuing harmful prescriptions, Social Health Authority (SHA) Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi has announced.
Speaking in an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, September 16, Mwangangi said the system will be rolled out by the Ministry of Health in 2026 as part of SHA’s broader reforms to safeguard patient safety and strengthen healthcare delivery.
The tool, known as a clinical decision support system, will integrate with the Afya Yangu portal to monitor prescriptions issued by doctors and cross-check them against patient records.
If the system detects a potential risk — such as an allergy or adverse drug interaction — it will automatically reject the prescription.
“These tools will ensure that your doctor does not give you a medical prescription that is likely to cause harm to you,” Mwangangi said.
She explained that if a patient’s allergy is recorded on the Afya Yangu platform, the system will block any prescription that could trigger it, thereby reducing the risk of medical errors.
The initiative, she added, is part of SHA’s strategy to protect patients and enhance trust in Kenya’s new health financing model.
The announcement comes after Mwangangi revealed that SHA will also roll out free ambulance services by the end of October 2025.
The service, to be launched by President William Ruto, will allow Kenyans to access emergency transport by calling a toll-free number.
Under the scheme, SHA will cover the Ksh4,500 ambulance fee as well as all medical costs incurred within the first 24 hours of emergency care.
“You will only be required to call us, and the ambulance will come wherever you are. It will then take you to the emergency centre, and SHA will cater for the expenses so that you may get well,” Mwangangi said.
The AI tool and ambulance service are among several measures SHA has introduced in recent months, including tighter oversight of healthcare claims, in efforts to curb fraud and ensure Kenyans receive safe and affordable care.
