Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi and Roche Diagnostics have established a partnership with the aim of automating essential diagnostic procedures within the hospital’s laboratory. This collaboration involves the installation of the cutting-edge cobas® pro integrated solutions diagnostic instrument. This state-of-the-art instrument is capable of conducting simultaneous tests for a wide range of communicable and non-communicable diseases, significantly speeding up the delivery of test results to patients.
The fully automated system not only reduces the time required to produce test results but also minimizes the risk of human error, leading to more accurate and timely diagnoses for patients. Notably, the system can simultaneously generate over 800 test results across various disease categories from different sample types in just one hour. This automation process is set to expand the hospital’s diagnostic capacity, reducing the need to outsource tests to other countries and establishing Kenya as a prominent healthcare destination in the East African region, attracting medical tourists seeking high-quality diagnostic services.
Recognizing the pivotal role that accurate diagnostic testing plays in establishing a more efficient healthcare system, this partnership allows Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi to serve as a central hub for testing. It empowers patients with increased access to essential diagnostic solutions where they are most needed while offering healthcare professionals faster, more precise results for timely treatment interventions.
In a commitment to sustainable capacity building, Roche will also provide training to clinicians and healthcare professionals to ensure they can harness the full benefits of this advanced diagnostics system. Notably, the system is designed with environmental considerations in mind, aiming to minimize water consumption, waste generation, and promoting the use of eco-friendly reagent packaging. This, in turn, contributes to a more eco-conscious healthcare ecosystem.
One of the significant challenges in healthcare has been the limited emphasis on prevention and early diagnostics in many African countries, leading to cases where patients remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed at advanced stages of diseases, making treatment costlier and less effective. Aga Khan Hospitals are lauded for providing this vital opportunity to reach more patients, deliver faster and high-quality results, all for the betterment of patients’ well-being.