Penda Health, a medical services provider operating in Nairobi and its environs, has opened a referral centre offering specialist services. The firm is expanding its affordable healthcare model with an eye to serve more than 400,000 patients this year.

The facility in Nairobi's central business district will provide services such as paediatric, gynaecology and dental consultations, and advanced ultrasound, diagnostics and laboratory tests. This is in addition to the primary care services offered by the provider's other centres. Penda Health General Manager Kenya Marion Kago said the referral centre will serve as a hub for advanced clinical support to patients who will not have to seek services in other health facilities. thus offering convenience.

The healthcare provider is also strengthening its tech-enabled clinical health plat-form dubbed 'Pigia Penda' as part of its telemedicine strategy, to deliver services to patients virtually. "Early on, we realised that telemedicine will be an essential component of healthcare," Ms Kago said in a statement. "We are currently receiving over 1.500 calls monthly. mak-ing over 2,000 proactive out-reach calls to our patients and coordinating home drug delivery." [Peter Theuri]