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{
    "id": 1426208,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1426208/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 269,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba.",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "As we look at all these very exciting opportunities to revolutionalise our healthcare sector by digitizing the platforms, we should also remember that cancer is a reality. We have cancer survivors and people living with cancer for many years. Therefore, the issue of managing the symptoms or situation should also be factored in. When data is being collected or the platform is being given, it should offer an opportunity for people who choose not to go for treatment to understand that there is an option of going to a specific healthcare facility to get quality of life as they prepare to meet their maker. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Bill talks about how to ensure that Kenyans have that direct access through the digital platforms. However, I have to highlight the fact that the Kenya Kwanza Government has facilitated and empowered our CHPs with digital devices that have specific applications to manage the communities. Every CHP gets about 20 families to deal with. They are able to do routine calls even without them being called by that specific family or member on that platform. They are able to do routine checkups for different types of diseases such as high blood pressure. The Bill highlights the e-health and the digital platforms. The mover should also consider that we have an existing application under our CHPs that can benefit immensely from the proposals here. It is about synergizing with the existing platform available that includes the CHPs. It is not creating new platforms and then have to move people from one place to another. For those of us who have lived abroad, we know the advantage of being in this country. That is why we came back. One of the advantages is that Kenya is very advanced in terms of e-commerce. It is probably only in Kenya where you can order anything online that can be delivered to your house. I know many people do not know this, but most of these platforms and e-commerce activities that we have the privilege to access do not even exist in countries such as Denmark and Sweden. In 2024, Kenya is probably one of the first countries in Africa where you can go on a platform such as My Dawa and order for painkillers or any other medicine you need. This is something that we do not celebrate enough. In fact, to an extent that when we are talking about the Cancer Prevention and Control Bill in terms of telemedicine, I doubt that many people are aware that telemedicine is already happening. It is just that maybe we have not regularised it with a legal framework. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have platforms such as Uber, which have so many pharmacists listed on. Not only that; on other platforms, they even have doctors who are giving WhatsApp services. Not really diagnosis, but consultation on management of long- term illness or situations such as diabetes. Even as we are talking about this, maybe we need to streamline on how we will bring all these digital platforms; the e-health systems and telemedicine proposals into one regulatory authority because that is what is lacking. Today, if you order medicine from an online platform, unfortunately, they could be expired or not approved by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS). You do not know where to start because the platform is legal, but you do not know who to hold accountable in such a situation."
}