Nairobi Hospital has launched a new Home Blood Collection Service aimed at improving healthcare access and convenience for patients in Nairobi.

The service targets patients with chronic or acute illnesses, persons living with disabilities, expectant mothers, children and busy professionals who may find it difficult to visit the hospital for routine laboratory tests.

Speaking during the launch at the hospital premises, Chief Executive Officer Felix Osano said the initiative aligns with the hospital’s commitment to enhancing patient-centred care and leveraging innovation to improve service delivery.

“In today’s fast-paced economy, this service allows patients to receive care at their workplaces or homes, saving valuable time while ensuring that vulnerable individuals are not inconvenienced,” Mr. Osano said.

Osano acknowledged that the hospital has made deliberate investments in infrastructure and resources to improve patient outcomes through efficient and timely healthcare delivery.

“Patients seeking the service can place requests through a dedicated contact number or email, which upon approval, licensed phlebotomists from the hospital will be dispatched to collect samples, which will be processed at the hospital’s main laboratory,” he added.

Nairobi Hospital Chief Pathologist Rahul Zode said the service is available to all patients and is affordable, with a nominal fee of Sh200 ($1.5) per visit, subject to insurance provider approval.

“Once a request is made, our team processes the insurance approval and dispatches trained staff to the patient’s location. Samples are handled with confidentiality and processed promptly,” said Dr Zode.

Zode said that test results will be delivered via password-protected email or as hard copies upon request, ensuring data security and patient privacy. The service reflects global trends in home-based healthcare, which have been driven by increased awareness, technological advancements, and demand for convenience.

Board Chairman of the Kenya Hospital Association Barcley Onyambu noted that access to healthcare remains a key challenge for many Kenyans, adding that the initiative is designed to improve accessibility.

“Access is one of the pillars of a quality healthcare system. Wherever the patients are in Nairobi, we will bring the service to them,” Dr Onyambu said.

He further stated that while the service is currently limited to Nairobi, the hospital plans to expand to satellite areas such as Kiambu and eventually to other towns across the country.

Nairobi Hospital Director of Medical Services and Research Samuel Odede said the hospital’s advanced laboratory will support the new service by ensuring high-quality, timely diagnostics.

“We are extending our value-chain by bringing services to the clients. Blood samples and other tests will be collected from patients’ homes and analysed at our state-of-the-art laboratory,” Dr Odede said.

Odede disclosed that results would be shared directly with physicians and patients using secure digital platforms and that the hospital would initially operate the service on weekdays, with plans to extend to weekends. He also revealed that The Nairobi Hospital is working on other home-based services, including home-nursing and telemedicine consultations.

“We want to make services accessible to all Kenyans. This is not limited to a particular demographic. Our focus is to bring quality healthcare closer to the people,” he said.

He urged the public to shed the notion that The Nairobi Hospital is unaffordable, emphasising that the institution offers competitive rates while maintaining high standards of care. The hospital plans to review feedback from users during the pilot phase before expanding the service to other regions.

The launch of the Home Blood Collection Service underscores The Nairobi Hospital’s continued effort to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery through innovation and patient-focused solutions.

Stakeholders of the new Home Blood Collection Service, pose for a photo at the Nairobi Hospital, on June 9, 2025.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Kamau Daniel and Naif Rashid