DNK International By Felix Alukhava Murumbutsa.
Across Kenya, patients
continue to bypass nearby dispensaries and health centres in favour of referral hospitals often seeking tests that should be available at the primary level.
The result is predictable: overcrowded Level 5 and 6 hospitals, long waiting times, and delayed care.
This pattern reflects a deeper issue limited diagnostic capacity at Level 2 and 3 health facilities.
Primary healthcare is meant to be the foundation of an efficient health system. Yet many frontline facilities lack essential diagnostic tools and adequately trained personnel.
Clinicians are frequently forced to rely on symptoms alone, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
Patients are then referred elsewhere for basic tests, adding to both the cost and burden of care.
This challenge, however, is solvable.
Modern diagnostic technologies now make it possible to bring accurate testing closer to patients. Rapid diagnostic tests for malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis can deliver results within minutes.
Portable laboratory equipment can support basic blood tests even in remote settings, while digital platforms enable timely sharing of results and remote clinical support.
Integrating these solutions into primary healthcare would be transformative.
Early and accurate diagnosis allows timely treatment, prevents complications, and saves lives.
It also reduces unnecessary referrals, enabling higher-level hospitals to focus on complex and critical cases.
The benefits extend beyond clinical outcomes. Treating advanced disease is far more expensive than managing conditions early. When patients travel long distances for tests, they incur additional transport and time costs.
Strengthening diagnostics at the primary level would reduce this burden while improving efficiency across the health system.
The need is especially urgent given the rising burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. These conditions often go undetected until complications arise due to limited screening at lower-level facilities.
Similarly, delayed diagnosis of infectious diseases contributes to continued transmission and poorer outcomes.
If Kenya is to achieve universal health coverage, diagnostics must be prioritized, not treated as an afterthought.
However, equipment alone will not be sufficient. Investment must also focus on training and retaining skilled medical laboratory professionals.
Reliable supply chains for reagents and consumables are essential, alongside strong quality assurance systems to ensure accurate and dependable results.
Equally important is integrating diagnostic data into national health information systems.
Real time data can strengthen disease surveillance, guide public health responses, and support informed decision making at both county and national levels.
The way forward requires coordinated action.
Government, county health departments, private sector partners, and development agencies must work together to equip facilities, build workforce capacity, and promote appropriate technologies.
Kenya has made progress in expanding access to healthcare.
The next step is to ensure that care at the first point of contact is both accessible and effective.
By strengthening diagnostic services at Level 2 and 3 facilities, the country can reduce pressure on referral hospitals, improve patient outcomes, and build a more responsive and equitable healthcare system.
Diagnostics should not be a barrier to care they should be the bridge to better health.
Felix Alukhava Murumbutsa is the
Principal Medical Laboratory Technologist
Ministry of Health
Email: felike09@gmail.com
[DNK-International@May 5,2026]
