KENYA – Nairobi-based private health care provider Penda Health is raising Kshs100 million (US$ 925,925) plans to expand to other parts of Kenya, mainly targeting households seeking quality and affordable health care services.
Penda Health will spend Ksh100 million (US$925,925) to put up three more branches in Nairobi and build five others in the Coastal, Central, Eastern and Rift regions, bringing to 30 the total number of outlets by the end of next year. The funding will be sourced from Penda’s investors and partners.
In a statement, Penda Health CEO Stephanie Koczela said, “Our main goal is to have a presence in under-served communities including rural parts of Kenya where population density is low and quality health care is inaccessible. Our unique model blending in-person care and technology will help us scale up our network to reach 2.5 million patients over the next three years.”
Koszela added that Penda Health will increase geographical coverage in line with the high demand for quality health care in Kenya driven by population growth and a rise in the cost of medical services.
Over 80 percent of the health care provider’s patients are uninsured households and Penda is banking on technology and National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) accreditation to penetrate this market, a model it has implemented successfully in urban neighborhoods in Nairobi.
“Our key strength is delivering patient-centered care in a way that is truly responsive to our patient’s needs and contexts. We have integrated technology into all our operations to create a brick-and-mortar model that is highly tech-enabled including a paperless electronic medical record (EMR) system that allows for streamlined flow of care, diagnostic, treatment and payment functions,” added Ms. Koczela.
The expansion project will also see the medical provider realign its organization structure, opting for a leaner structure by outsourcing non-core services so as to improve efficiency, trim costs and optimize its human resource to serve patients better.
“Our unique model blending in-person care and technology will help us scale up our network to reach 2.5 million patients over the next three years”
Stephanie Koczela – CEO Penda Health
To enhance clinical support to patients on phone, Penda launched a telemedicine service dubbed Pigia Penda (Call Penda) and Chat Na Penda WhatsApp platform which receives calls daily and supports 200 plus outreach calls to patients and coordinating home drug delivery, while Chat Na Penda has had over 4,000 patients interacting through this platform since its launch in April 2021.
Penda recently hired Karim Moledina, a business development expert, as its new Chief Operating Officer, tasked with spearheading its expansion strategy underpinned by technology.
The coffee industry veteran, who previously worked at café chain Java House, will also oversee branch expansion, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Facilities, and Marketing.
The medical services provider operating 21 medical centers in Nairobi and its environs also recently opened an in-network referral center offering specialist services to its clients as part of the planned expansion of its affordable health care model currently targeting to serve more than 400,000 patients in 2021.
The referral center is located in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and will provide specialist services such as pediatric, gynecology and dental consultations, advanced ultrasound, diagnostics and laboratory tests. This is in addition to the primary care services offered by Penda Health.
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