Kenyan President William Ruto has directed that all ambulance service providers be integrated into the Social Health Authority (SHA) emergency response system by December, according to the-star.co.ke. The order was issued during the launch of the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre in Nairobi, as reported by the outlet.
The new dispatch centre will coordinate emergency medical responses across the country, with the SHA system designed to handle calls from any mobile network. The-star.co.ke reports that SHA emergency care services will cover all individuals, regardless of whether they are registered with the authority.
Dawan Africa, another outlet covering the launch, reported that the emergency hotline number 922 will be free to call across all mobile networks in Kenya. This means Kenyans can reach emergency services without incurring airtime charges, a move aimed at removing financial barriers to urgent medical assistance.
The integration of all ambulance providers into the SHA system by December is part of a broader effort to centralise and streamline emergency medical services. Currently, ambulance services operate through various public and private providers, often with inconsistent coordination. The new dispatch centre is expected to improve response times and ensure that patients are connected to the nearest available ambulance.
Nairobi Leo noted that SHA has issued its own update on the launch, confirming the centre is now operational. The authority’s role in managing the dispatch system marks a significant expansion of its mandate beyond routine health coverage.
What to watch next: whether private ambulance operators meet the December deadline and how the free 922 hotline performs under real-world demand in the coming months.
