Sustainable Healthcare Systems: What Kenya Needs to Build a Long-Term Medical Future

As Kenya advances toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and navigates emerging public health challenges, the need for sustainable healthcare systems has become more urgent than ever. From rising operational costs and workforce shortages to climate change and resource limitations, Kenya must adopt healthcare models that are resilient, efficient, and environmentally responsible.

A sustainable healthcare system doesn’t just deliver care—it does so in a way that protects future generations, optimizes limited resources, and adapts to changing demographic and disease trends. Visionary healthcare leaders like Jayesh Saini, founder of Lifecare Hospitals, Bliss Healthcare, and Dinlas Pharma, are already implementing aspects of sustainability in service delivery, infrastructure, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

This case study explores what sustainability means in the Kenyan healthcare context, the barriers to achieving it, and how integrated planning and partnerships can help the country build a long-term, future-ready medical system.

1. What Is Sustainable Healthcare?

Sustainable healthcare refers to a system that:

• Delivers quality care without depleting resources

• Operates in an environmentally conscious manner

• Prioritizes cost-efficiency, long-term planning, and population health

• Reduces healthcare inequalities and improves accessibility

For Kenya, this includes:

• Reducing waste in hospitals

• Ensuring uninterrupted care amid climate and economic disruptions

• Efficient allocation of funding, personnel, and equipment

• Promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing and renewable energy use

2. Key Challenges to Sustainability in Kenya’s Health System

2.1 Resource Constraints and Waste

• Many public hospitals operate on tight budgets, leading to frequent drug stockouts and equipment downtime.

• Poor procurement and supply chain systems lead to wastage of medical resources and expired drugs.

• Underutilization of existing facilities and staff in some counties, while others remain overstretched.

2.2 Environmental Impact

• Hospitals contribute to carbon emissions, biomedical waste, and water pollution.

• Few healthcare facilities use solar power, water recycling, or eco-friendly materials.

• Waste disposal, especially in rural hospitals, is often unsafe and non-compliant with environmental standards.

2.3 Fragmented Planning and Coordination

• Health programs often work in silos—lacking data integration, infrastructure sharing, and long-term planning.

• Many counties do not have health-specific environmental or sustainability frameworks.

3. Jayesh Saini’s Approach to Sustainable Healthcare

3.1 Infrastructure Sustainability at Lifecare Hospitals

Lifecare Hospitals, under Jayesh Saini’s leadership, focuses on:

• Smart hospital design with scalable layouts and energy-efficient lighting

• Investment in solar installations for backup power in energy-insecure regions

• In-house diagnostic and imaging units to reduce patient movement and referral delays

These practices reduce both operational costs and environmental impact, setting a blueprint for private sector-led sustainable infrastructure.

3.2 Local Drug Manufacturing through Dinlas Pharma

Dinlas Pharma is helping to build pharmaceutical independence and reduce environmental impact by:

• Manufacturing over 140 million tablets and 25 million capsules monthly, reducing reliance on imports

• Investing KSH 100–130 million annually in pharmaceutical R&D for affordable generics

• Optimizing logistics and packaging to minimize waste and emissions

This contributes to both economic and supply chain sustainability in Kenya’s healthcare ecosystem.

3.3 Digital Integration at Bliss Healthcare

Bliss Healthcare has invested in:

• Electronic health records (EHRs) to cut down on paper use

• Telemedicine and remote diagnostics, reducing patient travel and overcrowding

• AI-powered tools to streamline diagnosis, reduce duplication, and improve care accuracy

These digital solutions not only improve service delivery but also make the system leaner and more adaptable.

4. Strategic Pillars for Building a Sustainable Healthcare System in Kenya

4.1 Green Hospital Infrastructure

• Promote solar-powered hospitals, especially in rural areas

• Introduce eco-friendly construction materials and rainwater harvesting systems

• Mandate energy-efficient systems in all new hospital builds

4.2 Efficient Resource Allocation and Procurement

• Adopt centralized procurement systems with real-time tracking

• Create maintenance and asset utilization frameworks to prevent wastage

• Implement data-driven budgeting models to match resource needs to usage patterns

4.3 Local Production and Supply Chain Development

• Scale up local pharmaceutical manufacturing to cut import costs and carbon footprints

• Support public-private partnerships with companies like Dinlas Pharma for drug procurement

• Incentivize domestic production of medical consumables and diagnostic kits

4.4 Human Resource Sustainability

• Train and retain healthcare professionals in remote areas through incentive programs

• Build career development pathways to reduce burnout and workforce attrition

• Encourage task-shifting models supported by digital tools

4.5 Integrated Data and Digital Health Systems

• Establish national health data repositories to improve forecasting and efficiency

• Invest in mobile health platforms for outreach, chronic care, and referrals

• Use AI and analytics to optimize patient management and reduce duplication

5. The Role of Policy and Governance

To ensure sustainability, the following must be embedded in Kenya’s health policy:

• Incentives for eco-friendly health investments

• Budget allocations tied to sustainability benchmarks (e.g., energy usage, waste reduction)

• Inclusion of sustainability KPIs in county health performance reviews

• Regulatory frameworks for biomedical waste, green buildings, and procurement efficiency

Conclusion

Kenya’s future in healthcare lies not just in building more hospitals or expanding insurance, but in creating a system that is efficient, resilient, and environmentally sustainable. The road to sustainable healthcare requires strategic investments, innovation, and policy alignment—all grounded in long-term thinking.

Visionaries like Jayesh Saini have already begun this journey. Through smart hospital expansion, local pharmaceutical production, and digital health integration, his initiatives provide actionable models for what sustainable healthcare can look like in Kenya.

If replicated at scale—with public-private partnerships and supportive policies—Kenya can lead the region in building a healthcare system that delivers quality care today, and safeguards health equity for tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is Jayesh Saini?
Jayesh Saini is a healthcare entrepreneur and founder of Lifecare Hospitals, Bliss Healthcare, and Dinlas Pharma. He is recognized for integrating sustainability, access, and innovation in Kenya’s private healthcare sector.

What does sustainable healthcare mean?
It refers to healthcare systems that are environmentally friendly, cost-efficient, adaptable to future needs, and able to deliver long-term, equitable care.

How can Kenya make its healthcare system more sustainable?
By investing in green infrastructure, optimizing resources, promoting local manufacturing, expanding digital health, and integrating long-term planning into national health policies.

What role does the private sector play in sustainable healthcare?
Private institutions like those led by Jayesh Saini bring innovation, capital, and operational efficiency—helping scale sustainable practices through hospital design, pharmaceuticals, and technology.