WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi (formerly Medic East Africa and Medlab East Africa) exhibition opens next month at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Under the theme, ‘Advancing healthcare and laboratory innovation in East Africa’, the three-day exhibition is co-located to provide a unified platform for policy dialogue, technology transfer and professional development.

Kenya’s population is projected to exceed 63 million by 2030, driving rising demand for healthcare services. While the health workforce is expanding at an annual rate of 3.4 per cent, demand for services is growing even faster at 4.7 per cent.

Without sufficient doctors, the health system cannot keep pace, slowing progress toward the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) targets.

Although Kenya has committed to UHC through its Health Sector Strategy and Vision 2030, a recent Ksh38.7 billion ($299 million) budget cut poses a significant risk to the delivery of essential public health functions.

The solution is complex and will rely on a paradigm shift in health workforce planning, moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach, as well as the public and private sectors working together to increase investments in health employment.

For the past seven years, Medic East Africa and Medlab East Africa have been the leading healthcare and laboratory events in Kenya. Now rebranded into WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi, under the patronage of Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the events are backed by Africa CDC and CPD-accredited by the Kenya Medical Association and the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board.

These events demonstrate Kenya’s leadership role in transforming East Africa’s healthcare transformation while aligning with Vision 2030 and UHC 2030.

WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi, East Africa’s healthcare powerhouse uniting thousands of medical professionals under one roof to trade, network, and learn, is one of the World Health Expo’s 15 in-person exhibitions held annually.  The World Health Expo (WHX) is the world’s leading healthcare platform for deeper learning, building relationships and doing business across the healthcare ecosystem. 

With a network comprising 15 in-person exhibitions and over 110 conferences, complemented by editorial expertise and continuous opportunities for engagement, WHX has established a global community of more than 600,000 healthcare professionals.

Against this backdrop, more than 200 exhibitors will be showcasing innovations in diagnostics, clinical care and digital health at WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi.

Global and regional leaders include Randox, known for its cutting-edge laboratory solutions; Beckman Coulter, advancing clinical diagnostics and Radiometer that deliver advanced testing systems. They will be joined by Snibe, a pioneer in molecular and immunodiagnostic technologies, alongside other leading names such as Siemens Healthineers, Roche Kenya, Dedalus, Fujifilm and QIAGEN, reflecting the event’s role as a hub for technology transfer and cross-border collaboration.

“As East Africa scales up molecular diagnostics and genomics, Snibe is committed to ensuring innovation is matched by accessibility. We are partnering with universities and local laboratories to provide both technology and training, ensuring affordability without compromising on performance,” said Snibe.

The 2025 agenda features CPD-accredited conferences that address urgent challenges and opportunities for the region.

The Healthcare Policy and Investment Conference will explore financing models and public-private partnerships (PPPs) for system reform.

The Digital Health Conference will spotlight AI telemedicine, and data-driven tools that can expand access and improve efficiency.

The Primary Healthcare Conference will examine women-led leadership and community-centred strategies to strengthen resilience.

“Leadership and strategic financing are pivotal to achieving equitable healthcare. At WomenLift Health, our work shows that when women are equipped to lead, health systems become more inclusive, financing decisions more equitable and primary healthcare delivers more resilience. WHX Nairobi creates a vital space to spotlight these leaders and their role in addressing East Africa’s health future,” said Liberty Kituu, Senior Communication Manager, East Africa, WomenLift.

Complementing these conferences, WHX Labs Nairobi will address debate around antimicrobial resistance, molecular diagnostics, sustainable lab management and the adoption of AI-augmented systems. As the dedicated diagnostics and laboratory science platform, WHX Labs Nairobi will address some of the most urgent needs in East Africa’s health systems.

The programme is designed to tackle workforce shortages in laboratory science, expand access to essential diagnostics and showcase the latest innovations in genomics, molecular diagnostics and automation.

WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi will feature more than 65 international speakers from across East Africa and beyond, including Prof Edward Kunonga, Director of Public Health Wellness at NEOM Health & Well-Being Authority; Caroline Mbindyo, Chief Innovation Officer at Amref Health Africa; Salim Hasham, Africa Advisor at the International Hospital Federation; Dr Titus Mutwiri, Chairman of the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians & Technologists Board; Dr Shahin Sayed, Chair and Director of Laboratory Medicine at Aga Khan University; and Yasmin Chandani, CEO of InSupply Health.

These experts will be joined by leaders of key laboratory associations from Kenya, Tanzania and the wider region, reflecting the event’s strong diagnostics and laboratory focus.

Speaking on the importance of primary healthcare, Desta Lakew, Group Director of Partnerships & External Affairs at AMREF Health Africa, noted: “Kenya’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage is grounded in the principle of Primary Health Care. The five transformative health laws passed in 2023 have laid a robust foundation, ensuring equitable access to services, sustainable financing, interoperable digital systems, and a people-centred, data-driven health system. My hope for WHX Nairobi is that it catalyses greater political goodwill and innovation toward scalable, people-first solutions that can be replicated across Africa”.

WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi reaffirm their position as East Africa’s premier healthcare and diagnostics events, convening policymakers, clinicians, innovators and investors to shape the future of healthcare in the region.

Anchored by Kenya’s leadership, the three-day programme highlights the country’s pivotal role in driving healthcare transformation for East Africa and beyond. With a strong focus on innovation, investment, and inclusivity, the events provide a platform not only to showcase cutting-edge technologies but also to build partnerships and strategies that will accelerate Universal Health Coverage and strengthen health systems across the continent.

“As organisers of WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi, we are proud to provide East Africa with a platform that unites policymakers, innovators and healthcare leaders under one roof. This year’s agenda reflects the region’s commitment to inclusive primary healthcare, investment in sustainable financing and the rapid adoption of digital and diagnostic innovation. By working in partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Health, Africa CDC and our global exhibitors, these events are not only defining East Africa’s healthcare future but also shaping conversations that will resonate across the continent,” Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director at Informa Markets, adds.

In summary, the exhibition will address:

• The 2025 WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi programme will focus on advancing healthcare policy and investment, with sessions addressing sustainable financing, public–private partnerships, and innovative models to strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• WHX Labs Nairobi will showcase cutting-edge laboratory innovation, from molecular diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance strategies to AI-augmented systems and sustainable lab management.
• Leading exhibitors including Randox, Beckman Coulter, Radiometer, and Snibe, alongside Siemens Healthineers, Roche Kenya, Dedalus, Fujifilm, and QIAGEN, will present the latest diagnostic and clinical technologies.
• Key speakers from AMREF Health Africa and WomenLift Health will share perspectives on healthcare innovation, inclusivity, and investment for East Africa’s future.
• Supported by Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the Kenya Medical Association, Africa CDC, and other regional partners, the event will align with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and UHC 2030 goals.

Join WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi to drive healthcare advancement in Kenya and across the East Africa region.  To find out more and be part of the future of healthcare in Africa, register for WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi by visiting: https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/events/healthcare/nairobi/en/home.html and  https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/events/labs/nairobi/en/home.html

• A Tell Media report