How Kenyans Are Beating Long Hospital Queues and Rising Costs

Is This the Future of Healthcare? How Kenyans Are Beating Long Queues and Rising Costs

Despite technological advancements, Kenya’s healthcare system continues to be plagued by inefficiencies that leave patients spending more time waiting than receiving care.

A previous study by the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) found that patients in urban hospitals wait an average of 3 to 6 hours for outpatient services, with consultation times often lasting less than 10 minutes.

These challenges are reflected in public sentiment. A nationwide survey released by Infotrak in March 2023 found that healthcare is now the most pressing issue for Kenyans, surpassing concerns about jobs and the cost of living.

Some of the biggest frustrations facing patients include:

• Long wait times – Even the highest rated hospitals and clinics in Kenya are often overcrowded, forcing patients to spend hours waiting for care.
  
• Rushed consultations – Doctors often see dozens of patients daily, leaving little time to fully understand the patient's medical needs or history.
  
• Rising out-of-pocket costs – Even with insurance, unnecessary tests and consultations often deplete outpatient benefits for families before the year comes to an end. 
  
• Inconsistent care – Many Kenyans rarely see the same doctor, making follow-ups difficult.

Read Also: If You Have Medical Insurance, You Need to Read This - Now

But there’s a silver lining—and many Kenyans are already enjoying seamless care. Instead of spending hours in waiting rooms or lamenting about an outpatient cover getting depleted by July, they’re choosing a service that places the needs of the patient first. 

Antara Health is pioneering this model that places Kenyans at the centre of healthcare - making healthcare feel personal. 

One Antara user told Money254 she was pleasantly surprised to be assigned both a personal nurse and a dedicated doctor for her family, offering unlimited consultations and making it easier to track and refer to her medical history. 

Antara Health is built around a simple idea: Kenyans should access quality healthcare where they are—and not just when they’re sick. 

How Antara is changing Healthcare in Kenya

a) Instant Access to a Doctor When You Need One

Hospitals are not a fun place to be if you can avoid it. With Antara, you get to avoid hospitals since most of the issues are handled online. 

But the convenience is not just in avoiding those long queues. Even when you are not feeling unwell, you can talk to your personal doctor or nurse to improve your wellness. 

How are your cholesterol levels? Why is my baby adding so little weight, why is my baby taking too long to walk? Or maybe you need to talk to a mental health counselor? You get a specialist to give you professional advice on the many concerns you ignore at the thought of visiting a hospital. 

Beyond the consultation, Antara offers a complete end-to-end experience. If you need prescriptions - that is coordinated for you and delivered right to your doorstep. If you need a test - Antara sends someone to pick up your samples and the results are sent to you virtually. 

b) Medical Care that is Personalised for you: 

At most hospitals, a patient is just another name on a file. One visit, one doctor. Next visit, a different doctor—who has no clue what you discussed last time. But with Antara, it’s different.

From the moment you sign up, you’re assigned a personal doctor and nurse who actually get to know you—and your health history. They know your child has allergies, that your family has a history of high blood pressure, or that you’re trying to manage stress from work.

This makes care more effective and less frustrating. You don’t have to keep repeating your story or trying to remember what medication you were prescribed two months ago. Your doctor already knows, and they follow up with you consistently, checking in on your progress and answering your questions over WhatsApp or call.

It’s a relationship, not a one-off interaction—and that’s what makes all the difference.

c) More Healthcare for Less

In an era of skyrocketing healthcare costs, Antara completely disrupts the cost of care. With some insurance companies, the Antara service is already included in the benefits - meaning it’s basically free for the patient. For all other insurance companies, the cost is affordable - starting as low as Ksh1,500 for three months. 

For many insured Kenyans struggling with limited outpatient covers, Antara offers a compelling alternative. It comes with unlimited consultations, personalized, higher quality care, and reduces the need for expensive hospital visits.

While traditional healthcare in Kenya has been a big headache, it’s clear that the future of medical care in Kenya is shifting—away from crowded clinics and rushed consultations, and towards a more efficient, accessible, and patient-centered approach. If you would like to sign up with Antara, click here.