Addressing Kenya’s Healthcare Workforce Crisis
Kenya is facing a critical shortage of healthcare workers, which could lead to a deficit of over 114,000 professionals by 2030. This issue poses a significant challenge to the country’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as the current production of new health workers stands at only 7,650 annually—far below the required number to meet the rising demand.
The situation has prompted a major initiative to bring together stakeholders from various sectors to find sustainable solutions. Over 8,000 participants, including representatives from the government, private sector, and international community, will gather in Nairobi for an event focused on addressing these challenges.
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The World Health Expo: A Platform for Change
The conference, known as the World Health Expo (WHX) Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi, is set to take place at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) between October 6 and October 10, 2025. It is the premier healthcare and laboratory event in Kenya, featuring over 300 exhibitors, representatives from 20 countries, more than 65 international speakers, and 8,000 attendees.
This event marks a rebranding of previous conferences, Medic East Africa and Medlab East Africa, which have been prominent in the region for the last seven years. The new format aims to showcase healthcare innovations, attract investment, and foster collaboration among businesses, governments, and innovators.
Key Challenges and Objectives
The event comes at a crucial time as Kenya works to implement UHC despite several obstacles. The WHO data highlights that the country’s healthcare workforce is projected to fall short by over 114,000 by 2030. Additionally, the annual production of new health workers is insufficient to meet the growing demand, which increases by 4.7% each year.
Kenya’s recent budget cuts, amounting to KSh 38.7 billion, further complicate the path to UHC. However, the World Health Expo is expected to play a vital role in overcoming these barriers by promoting seamless healthcare solutions and positioning Kenya as a regional medical hub.
Focus Areas and Collaborative Efforts
The conference will provide hospital executives, laboratory managers, procurement specialists, and government officials with opportunities to drive positive change. Desta Lakew, Group Director of Partnerships & External Affairs at AMREF Health Africa, emphasized the importance of expanding medical education, improving laboratory science training, and creating incentives for rural practice.
Lakew highlighted that Kenya’s journey toward UHC is grounded in Primary Health Care principles. The five transformative health laws passed in 2023 have laid a strong foundation, ensuring equitable access to services, sustainable financing, interoperable digital systems, and a people-centred, data-driven health system. He hopes the event will catalyse greater political goodwill and innovation for scalable, people-first solutions across Africa.
Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director for Informa Markets, noted that WHX Labs Nairobi will build on the legacy of past events to address key health matters in Kenya and the broader region. The agenda includes six CPD-accredited conferences, expert-led discussions, live product demonstrations, and new country pavilions from Egypt, South Africa, and Brazil showcasing the latest healthcare products and technologies.
Participation and Engagement
Participants can register for WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi through the conference portal. The event offers a unique platform for gaining practical knowledge and connecting with industry leaders and experts from Kenya’s healthcare and laboratory industries. With its comprehensive approach and collaborative spirit, the conference aims to make a lasting impact on the future of healthcare in Kenya and beyond.
