The World Health Expo (WHX) Labs, formerly known as Medlab East Africa and a platform for laboratory professionals, will hold a three-day forum in October to showcase healthcare innovations.
Now rebranded into WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi and in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the forum that will take place from 6th to 8th October will feature conferences on policy, digital health, primary care, and leadership.
WHX Labs Nairobi will focus on laboratory diagnostics, automation, and precision medicine, addressing workforce gaps with training in areas like molecular diagnostics, microbiology, and lab management.
The meeting is geared towards fostering collaboration between businesses, governments, and innovators; breaking geographical barriers for seamless healthcare solutions; and positioning Kenya as a regional medical hub.
Notably, this year will be the first-ever Healthcare Leaders Ministerial Roundtable, backed by President William Ruto and the Ministry of Health, that will bring in global leaders and policymakers to explore sustainable solutions to the healthcare workforce crisis.
Desta Lakew, Group Director of Partnerships & External Affairs, AMREF Health Africa, said that Kenya’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage is grounded in the principle of Primary Health Care and that the WHX Nairobi roundtable catalyses greater political goodwill and innovation toward scalable, people-first solutions that can be replicated across Africa.
Kenya currently faces a severe shortage of healthcare workers; thus, there is a need for urgent measures to expand training programmes and recruitment.
According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, Kenya’s rapidly growing population, projected to exceed 63 million by 2030, is fuelling rising demand for healthcare services.
While the health workforce is increasing at 3.4 per cent annually, WHO said the demand for services was growing faster at 4.7 percent
“Without sufficient doctors, the health system cannot scale up to meet this demand, hindering progress toward Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) targets,” said WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi.
Despite the government’s commitment to Universal Health Care (UHC) through Vision 2030, a recent Sh38.7 billion budget cut to the health sector threatens to undermine essential public health delivery.
The organisation said tackling the crisis will require a shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to strategic workforce planning and greater collaboration between the public and private sectors to boost investment in healthcare employment.
Held in partnership with the Ministry of Health and supported by Africa CDC, the Kenya Healthcare Foundation, and the Kenya Medical Association, the events aim to position Kenya as a regional medical hub.
“By uniting policymakers, healthcare leaders, and innovators, WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi are helping accelerate improved patient care and transform the region’s health systems,” said Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director, Informa Markets.
The shortage and uneven distribution of health workers, particularly in rural areas, have been recognised as major obstacles to quality healthcare and equitable access, and to combat these challenges, the government has invested in health worker training and education.
By Wangari Ndirangu
