How Jayesh Saini is Transforming Access and Quality of Healthcare in Africa

A Vision Rooted in Accessibility and Quality

In 2010, Kenya enshrined healthcare as a constitutional right, an ambitious step towards ensuring healthcare for all. However, making this a reality required leaders with vision and dedication. Jayesh Umesh Saini’s approach to healthcare reform has been built on these principles, as he works to create systems that are not only nancially sustainable but also scalable in addressing the diverse healthcare needs of a growing population.

Drawing inspiration from his father, Dr. Umesh Saini, who established Nairobi West Hospital in the 1980s, Jayesh grew up with a deep understanding of the healthcare industry. His vision, though, went beyond traditional healthcare delivery. He recognized that while cities like Nairobi were becoming hubs of medical care, rural and underserved regions continued to struggle with basic healthcare access. His response? Build a healthcare system that reaches all corners of Kenya and eventually East Africa, ensuring no community is left behind.

Understanding Africa’s Healthcare Challenges

Africa is home to over 1.2 billion people, yet the continent’s healthcare systems remain underdeveloped. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Africa bears 24% of the global disease burden but accounts for just 1% of global healthcare expenditure. Epidemics such as Ebola, malaria, and HIV/AIDS have highlighted critical weaknesses in the healthcare infrastructure, leaving millions without adequate care.

Many governments have struggled to prioritize healthcare, with limited resources often redirected to education, economic development, or infrastructure. While the public sector worked to keep up with rising demand, Jayesh Saini saw an opportunity for the private sector to ll the gap. His focus on innovative healthcare solutions was aimed not just at alleviating immediate concerns but at creating lasting, scalable solutions for the future.

Building Lifecare Hospitals and Group: A Game-Changer in Healthcare

Jayesh’s rst brain child, Bliss Healthcare, is Kenya’s largest network of outpatient medical centers and proudly boasts about its model of medical services delivery which aligns with the requirements of the diverse populations it serves. In 2017, Jayesh founded Lifecare Hospitals, which quickly became one of the fastest-growing healthcare providers in Kenya. His strategy was simple yet ground breaking—focus on underserved areas. Lifecare Hospitals were deliberately located in regions like Bungoma, Migori, Kikuyu, and Meru, areas where access to healthcare was historically limited. This decentralization reduced the strain on Nairobi’s overburdened referral hospitals and brought much-needed services closer to those in rural communities.

Lifecare Hospitals now operates multiple facilities, o ering world-class medical services in previously underserved regions. The healthcare group has expanded its services to include advanced diagnostics, such as CT scans and MRIs, in areas that previously lacked even basic healthcare infrastructure. Lifecare has not only improved healthcare access but has also been instrumental in elevating the quality of care for thousands of patients.

By 2025, Lifecare aims to have 10 operational hospitals across Kenya, with plans to expand into Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Jayesh’s long-term vision includes adding over 4,000 hospital beds across East Africa, signi cantly increasing the region’s capacity to manage healthcare demands.

Innovating for Sustainability and Impact

A key di erentiator for Lifecare Hospitals and Group has been Jayesh’s focus on nancial sustainability without compromising on the quality of care. In a region where access to capital and regulatory hurdles often sti e growth, the group has managed to navigate these challenges successfully. By adopting a lean operational model and leveraging local expertise, Lifecare has maintained a balance between o ering high-quality services and keeping them a ordable for the general population.

Lifecare Hospitals and Group has also embraced technology and innovation as cornerstones of its growth strategy. By investing in telemedicine, digital health platforms, and electronic health records, the group has streamlined operations and improved patient outcomes. These technological advancements have allowed Lifecare Hospitals and Group to reach more patients, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and cut down on operational ine ciencies. Moreover, Jayesh is keen to explore telehealth as a way to extend services to even more remote areas across East Africa, eliminating geographical barriers to healthcare access.

Patient-Centered Care and Workforce Empowerment

At the core of Jayesh Saini’s vision is a patient- rst philosophy. Lifecare Hospitals and Group have implemented a Quality Management Policy, ensuring that all patients, regardless of their location or economic status, receive the same standard of care. This consistency across facilities has built trust within the communities Lifecare serves, positioning the group as a leader in patient-centered healthcare delivery. The group has onboarded and treats clients from reputable institutions like Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Teachers Service Commission (TSC), National Police Service (NPS), Civil Servants, corporates and several insurance companies.

Moreover, Jayesh understands that healthcare is as much about the professionals delivering the service as it is about the infrastructure. Lifecare Hospitals and Group currently employs over 4,000 professionals, from doctors and nurses to administrative sta , all of whom are continuously trained and developed. By fostering a supportive work environment and investing in its employees’ professional growth, Lifecare has attracted and retained top talent, further enhancing the quality of care provided.