Aga Khan Hospital's Sh1.6 Billion AI Investment Revolutionizes X-ray Analysis

Aga Khan University Hospital has invested KSh 1.6 billion investment in artificial intelligence and advanced medical technology. The move signals a bold expansion from specialist referral services into secondary care, providing faster and more accessible diagnostics to a broader range of patients. The centerpiece is AI-powered imaging. X-rays that once took 15 to 20 minutes to analyze now take just 30 seconds. Doctors receive near-instant results, flag abnormalities immediately, and make clinical decisions without delays. For patients, this means shorter wait times, quicker diagnoses, and faster treatment. However, hospital officials emphasize that AI is designed to support doctors, not replace them. By handling repetitive, data-heavy tasks, AI frees specialists to focus on complex cases and patient care. In a country where radiologists remain scarce, this efficiency shift is crucial. “Expansion into secondary care is strategic. Strengthening mid-level services reduces congestion at referral units because of speedy diagnostics for conditions that do not require highly specialized attention,” officials say. Kenya’s healthcare sector has been slow to adopt AI at scale due to cost and infrastructure challenges. Aga Khan’s Sh1.6 billion commitment changes that narrative, showing that digital health is no longer theoretical but a present-day reality. If successful, the initiative could redefine patient expectations, compress diagnostic timelines, and accelerate Kenya’s journey into technology-driven healthcare, making quality care faster, smarter, and more accessible.