Zanzibar expands digital health system for primary facilities

ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar Ministry of Health has announced plans to strengthen healthcare services by supplying Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to primary health facilities as part of the government’s strategy to digitise health systems.

The announcement was made by Acting Minister for Health and Minister of State in the President’s Office (State House), Dr Saada Mkuya Salum, during a ceremony to hand over the equipment to district health officials.

She emphasised the importance of proper use of the devices to ensure they deliver the intended benefits and help improve healthcare services for citizens.

“Under the programme, each primary health facility will receive two laptop computers and one tablet, while each health centre will receive four laptops and one tablet,” the Minister said.

The initiative aims to ensure all health facilities are capable of using digital systems for managing patient records, collecting and analysing health data and improving the efficiency of service delivery.

Ms Mkuya said investment in digital systems will help reduce the loss of medical records, simplify monitoring of health services and improve decision making through accurate data.

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She added that the move will also enable Zanzibar’s health sector to keep pace with global technological changes.

She called on district medical officers to embrace integrity so that citizens can build confidence in the services provided and reduce complaints from the public.

For his part, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Mngereza Mzee Miraji, said the distribution of the equipment will help improve healthcare services and reflects the government’s significant investment in ensuring citizens receive modern and high-quality medical care.

He explained that the distribution is part of a broader digital transformation programme in Zanzibar’s health sector aimed at improving service quality, strengthening transparency and enabling faster and more efficient healthcare delivery.

Meanwhile, Head of Information and Communication Technology at the ministry, Mr Mohamed Habib Almafaz, said the ministry also expects to receive 500 desktop computers, which will be distributed to various health facilities to further strengthen healthcare services.

He added that the ministry has already distributed 440 laptops, 115 tablets, 106 printers and 110 Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units to primary health facilities to support digital health systems and enhance efficiency in service delivery.