Murang’a County in central Kenya has introduced a major digital health upgrade by using Starlink satellite internet, delivered through Paratus Essential Access, to support telemedicine services across its healthcare facilities.

The initiative is aimed at improving access to medical care for rural communities where traditional internet infrastructure is either weak, unreliable, or too costly to expand.With a population of about 1.1 million people, many residents in the county face long travel distances to hospitals and a shortage of specialised healthcare professionals.

The new system allows patients to connect with doctors remotely through video consultations, digital medical records, and real-time diagnostics support.

Paratus Essential Access, a telecommunications provider operating in several African countries, is responsible for deploying the Starlink connectivity in the region.

The partnership leverages Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellite network, which provides high-speed and low-latency internet compared to older satellite systems.This makes it suitable for demanding healthcare applications such as live consultations and transmission of medical imaging.

The project is part of Kenya’s wider digital transformation agenda, especially in the healthcare sector, where the government has been encouraging the adoption of technology to improve service delivery.The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of telemedicine across Africa, accelerating investment in remote healthcare systems.In Murang’a, the new setup is expected to reduce patient waiting times, cut unnecessary hospital visits, and improve monitoring of chronic diseases.

It also serves as a potential model for other counties in Kenya and similar regions across Africa seeking to bridge healthcare access gaps through digital solutions.