In Kenya, healthcare pioneers like Jayesh Saini, founder of Lifecare Hospitals, Bliss Healthcare, and Dinlas Pharma, are demonstrating the role of strategic private investment in transforming access to care. However, for Africa to achieve equitable and resilient healthcare systems, investments must be aligned with regional needs, infrastructure gaps, and emerging health challenges.
This article explores where healthcare investment in Africa—particularly Kenya—should focus next, offering a macro-level perspective for policymakers, private investors, and development partners.
1. The Current Investment Landscape in African Healthcare
1.1 Increasing Private Sector Participation
- Private healthcare is estimated to account for over 50% of healthcare delivery in Africa, especially in urban areas.
- Investors are targeting sectors such as hospital networks, pharmaceutical production, health insurance, and telemedicine.
In Kenya, Jayesh Saini’s Lifecare Hospitals exemplifies how private investment can expand hospital capacity, introduce specialty care, and integrate smart technologies to meet rising demand.
1.2 Development Finance and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
- International development finance institutions (DFIs) are increasingly funding PPP hospital models.
- These partnerships are crucial for bridging infrastructure gaps in underserved counties and scaling innovation.
2. Priority Investment Areas for Africa’s Healthcare Future
2.1 Infrastructure: Building and Expanding Hospitals
- Many African nations face shortages of hospital beds, ICUs, and surgical facilities.
- Kenya has 1.6 beds per 1,000 people, far below the WHO recommendation of 3 beds per 1,000.
- Investment is urgently needed in:
○ Rural and county-level hospitals
○ Specialized care facilities (e.g., oncology, cardiology, nephrology)
○ Emergency and trauma centers
Private providers like Lifecare Hospitals have expanded from 1 to 7 facilities in Kenya, increasing bed capacity by over 400% in just 7 years—an example of scalable and responsive healthcare infrastructure growth.
2.2 Pharmaceuticals and Local Drug Manufacturing
- Africa imports up to 80% of its medicines, making healthcare costs volatile and supply chains vulnerable.
- Investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing is key to improving drug affordability and availability.
Dinlas Pharma, led by Jayesh Saini, is a Kenyan success story—producing:
- 140 million tablets/month
- 25 million capsules/month
- 1 million bottles of syrups and 0.8 million ointment tubes/month
- Distributed across all counties and supporting local pharmacies and hospitals
Governments and investors must support more localized pharmaceutical value chains through incentives, R&D funding, and procurement guarantees.
2.3 Digital Health and Health Tech Innovation
- With growing internet and mobile phone penetration, digital health presents one of Africa’s biggest healthcare opportunities.
- Key areas for investment include:
○ Telemedicine platforms
○ AI-driven diagnostics
○ Electronic health records (EHRs)
○ Mobile health applications
Bliss Healthcare, under Jayesh Saini’s leadership, is already using telehealth to deliver outpatient services to over 100,000 patients monthly—improving access in both urban and semi-urban areas.
2.4 Health Insurance and Financing Models
- Out-of-pocket expenditure still accounts for more than 40% of healthcare spending in Africa.
- Expanding health insurance coverage and risk pooling mechanisms is critical.
Investment is needed in:
- Low-cost health microinsurance models
- Public-private integration of insurance schemes like NHIF
- Fintech platforms for health payments and claims management
3. Emerging Trends and Investment Considerations
3.1 Rise of Chronic Diseases and Specialty Care Demand
- Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension are rising rapidly.
- There is an urgent need to invest in diagnostic labs, oncology centers, dialysis units, and rehabilitation facilities.
3.2 Healthcare Workforce Development
- Many African countries face a shortage of trained health professionals.
- Investment in medical education, digital training platforms, and workforce retention programs is needed to build long-term capacity.
3.3 Supply Chain Resilience and Cold Storage
- Vaccine distribution, especially during pandemics, exposed weaknesses in cold-chain logistics.
- Investing in last-mile delivery systems, warehousing, and temperature-sensitive transport will ensure preparedness for future health emergencies.
4. Policy Recommendations to Attract and Guide Healthcare Investments
For healthcare investments to succeed in Africa, governments must:
- Develop long-term national healthcare investment strategies, aligned with SDGs and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals.
- Improve ease of doing business in the healthcare sector through regulatory reforms.
- Provide tax incentives and land grants for hospitals, pharma manufacturers, and health-tech startups.
- Encourage blended finance models, combining public funds, private capital, and donor support.
- Ensure strong governance and transparency in public-private partnerships.
Conclusion
Africa’s healthcare transformation hinges on smart, targeted, and inclusive investment. While the continent faces deep challenges, it also presents unprecedented opportunities for those willing to commit capital and expertise to health system development.
In Kenya, leaders like Jayesh Saini are proving that strategic healthcare investment—whether in hospitals, pharmaceuticals, or digital health—can deliver both financial and social returns. His work with Lifecare Hospitals, Dinlas Pharma, and Bliss Healthcare offers a blueprint for scalable, impact-driven health investment in Africa.
As we look ahead, the question is not whether to invest in African healthcare—but where, how, and with whom. The answer lies in collaboration, innovation, and a long-term commitment to building a healthier continent.