Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said facilities that have not completed the migration will now have until October 30, 2026, to finish the process.
The extension affects public Level 5 and Level 6 facilities, faith-based organisations and private health facilities that are still completing the transition.
The Ministry of Health says the move is part of the government's plan to establish a more standardised, digital and paperless health information system across the country.
What is HMIS?
HMIS stands for Health Management Information System.
In the current transition, the system is replacing the SHA Provider Portal as the main digital platform through which health facilities interact with the health financing and health information infrastructure.
The government says the wider objective is to create a standardised and interoperable digital health system.
For patients, the transition is therefore taking place behind the scenes at the facility level, although it can affect how hospitals process information and interact with the digital health system.
Why has the deadline been extended?
The Ministry of Health says significant progress has been made, but some facilities still need additional time and technical assistance to complete the migration.
According to Duale, all 6,427 public Level 2 to Level 4 health facilities have successfully transitioned to HMIS.
At the public Level 5 level, four facilities have completed the transition while 23 others are at various stages.
The government expects the remaining facilities to complete the process by October 30.
The government is also supporting 518 contracted faith-based health facilities with installation and migration to HMIS.
So far, 38 of those facilities have completed the transition.
What does the HMIS transition mean for patients?
The most important message from the Ministry of Health is that patients should continue receiving healthcare services during the transition.
Duale said no patient should be denied healthcare because a facility has not completed its move to HMIS.
The ministry has specifically assured patients that the ongoing migration will not disrupt access to healthcare services.
This means Kenyans should not interpret the October 30 deadline as a deadline for accessing treatment.
It is primarily a deadline for health facilities to complete their digital transition.
What happens at Level 5 and Level 6 hospitals?
The transition is continuing at higher-level facilities.
Four public Level 5 facilities have already completed the process, while 23 remain at different stages.
At the national referral level, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) are expected to complete their transition shortly.
The remaining national government Level 6 facilities are expected to complete the process by October 30.
What about private hospitals?
Private facilities are also being brought into the new digital framework.
Facilities that already have their own HMIS platforms have started the certification process under the Digital Health Act.
The Digital Health Agency has so far certified 28 existing HMIS platforms.
The government says certification is intended to promote standardisation and interoperability while strengthening the quality and security of health information.
The Digital Health Agency will also undertake technical support initiatives during October to help private facilities complete the transition.
What is the October 30 deadline?
October 30 is the new deadline for facilities that have not yet completed the transition.
The Ministry says the additional month will be used to support facilities still working through outstanding requirements.
Health sector associations are also expected to meet the Ministry on October 2 to agree on facility-specific transition plans, including outstanding requirements and timelines.
Will HMIS affect SHA services?
The HMIS transition comes as SHA continues its wider digital transformation of healthcare financing and provider management.
The Social Health Authority has separately launched its 2026–2029 contracting cycle, known as HAKIKA, together with an electronic contracting platform.
That system is intended to allow healthcare providers to submit applications, upload documents, verify licences, execute contracts and track their progress digitally.
The two developments form part of Kenya's broader move towards digital health administration.
Why the change matters
The government wants health facilities to operate within a more standardised digital environment rather than relying on fragmented systems.
The Ministry says HMIS should help improve interoperability and strengthen the management and security of health information.
For hospitals, the immediate challenge is completing the migration and ensuring staff and systems are ready.
For patients, the government's position is that healthcare services should continue normally while the transition takes place.
What patients should know
The key points are simple:
- The HMIS transition deadline has been extended to October 30, 2026.
- All 6,427 public Level 2 to Level 4 facilities have completed the transition.
- Some Level 5, Level 6, faith-based and private facilities are still migrating.
- The government says patients should not be denied treatment because a facility has not completed the transition.
- Private HMIS platforms are being certified under the Digital Health Act.
- The government says the long-term goal is a more standardised, interoperable and paperless digital health system.
For millions of Kenyans using public and private healthcare facilities, the immediate issue is therefore not whether treatment will stop, but how smoothly hospitals complete the transition to the new digital system before the October 30 deadline.
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