Tanzania’s digital health push puts AI, hospital technology on procurement agenda at WHX Nairobi

NAIROBI:Tanzania’s healthcare sector is moving into a new phase of digital transformation, with electronic medical records, interoperable health information systems, digital primary healthcare tools and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) applications increasingly shaping how health services are delivered.

The shift is creating new opportunities for hospitals, healthcare providers, technology companies, distributors and investors as Tanzania seeks to strengthen the use of data and digital tools across its health system.

The Ministry of Health has been advancing digital health through initiatives focused on interoperability, data use and the digitalisation of primary healthcare. Government-led programmes are also supporting the development of systems that enable health information to move between facilities and improve access to timely data for clinical and management decisions.

Tanzania’s progress is also evident in the growing use of electronic medical records. Recent government reporting indicates that EMR coverage has reached 100% across national, specialised, zonal and regional referral hospitals, while adoption has expanded significantly across district hospitals, health centres and dispensaries.

The development comes as healthcare providers increasingly look beyond basic digitisation towards technologies that can improve diagnosis, patient management and operational efficiency.

AI is emerging as part of this conversation. Tanzanian researchers and healthcare stakeholders are exploring applications including disease surveillance, diagnostics and predictive analytics, while experts have called for stronger collaboration between hospitals, technology companies and innovators to ensure AI solutions respond to local healthcare needs.

Digital tools are also being introduced closer to communities. In December 2024, Tanzania’s Ministry of Health launched Afya-Tek, a digital system designed to strengthen coordination and delivery of community-level healthcare services, particularly by improving monitoring, planning and timely access to services.

Against this backdrop, World Health Expo (WHX) 2026 will bring healthcare technology providers, hospital decision-makers, distributors and investors together at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi from 16–18 September. More than 5,500 attendees and 200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries are expected.

For Tanzanian healthcare organisations, the regional marketplace comes at a time when hospitals are evaluating technology based on practical outcomes. Electronic medical records can strengthen access to patient histories, hospital management systems can improve patient flow and resource planning, while AI-supported diagnostic technologies can assist clinicians in analysing medical information.

Interoperability is expected to remain a critical consideration. Tanzania’s digital health programmes are placing increasing emphasis on connecting systems and enabling secure data exchange across health facilities. Suppliers that can integrate with existing infrastructure, support different operating environments and protect patient information will therefore be better positioned to serve the Tanzanian market.

Connectivity, infrastructure, skills and sustainability will also influence adoption. For technology providers, this means solutions must be designed not only around advanced capabilities but also around the realities of healthcare delivery across urban, regional and rural facilities.

Now in its 10th edition, WHX Nairobi is held under the patronage of Kenya’s Ministry of Health and will feature eight product sectors, including IT and digital health solutions. The event will connect healthcare leaders with providers of AI diagnostics, electronic medical records, hospital management systems, telemedicine platforms, connected medical devices and health-data technologies.

“WHX in Nairobi brings together AI diagnostics, telemedicine platforms and hospital technology providers with healthcare leaders at a time when healthcare systems across the region are moving from digital pilots towards implementation and investment,” said Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director – Healthcare, Informa Markets.

For Tanzania, the opportunity is increasingly about choosing technologies that can move beyond individual projects and become part of a connected, sustainable health system.