Nairobi’s healthcare performance has risen by 6.3 points over the last five years, lifted by more investments in modern diagnostics and treatment and competent staff, marking a steady recovery from pandemic-era stagnation.
Latest analysis by Numbeo, a global research database that tracks the quality of life shows that Nairobi recorded a Health Care Index of 62.8 in 2025, up from 56.5 in 2020.
The Health Care Index is a composite metric that measures the overall quality of healthcare systems based on factors including medical staff competency, equipment quality, service speed, cost, and accessibility. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating better healthcare performance.
Nairobi scored highest on convenience of location at 75 percent, a reflection of its dense urban geography and relatively accessible network of health facilities compared to many African cities-a critical advantage for residents who can reach care without lengthy travel.
‘Medical staff competency earned solid confidence at 63.64 percent, while modern diagnostic and treatment equipment scores even better at 67.23 percent,’ said Numbeo.
Beyond clinical capabilities, administrative professionalism has also improved.
Accuracy in medical record-keeping and staff friendliness both register at 69.52 percent, signaling better patient experiences and more streamlined processes in healthcare institutions-improvements that reduce medical errors and enhance trust in the system.
However, operational challenges persist and continue to frustrate patients daily. Speed in completing examinations and reports sits at 59.59 percent, while responsiveness around waiting times lags at just 51.35 percent, pointing to an evidence of congestion and workforce strain that force many residents to spend hours in queues or seek care in the private sector.
Cost satisfaction remains moderate at 56.42 percent, reflecting growing affordability pressures as inflation and out-of-pocket expenses continue to rise, pushing healthcare further out of reach for lower-income households and threatening to deepen health inequalities across the city.
The city was ranked fourth in Africa, slipping from third position, after Namibia surged ahead with a score of 67.4. Globally, Nairobi was position 211. Cape Town and Pretoria, in South Africa, continue to lead the continent with Health Care Index of 68.8 and 66.5, respectively.
The Numbeo statistics come at a time when county hospitals are reporting long queues in outpatient departments, with patients left sitting on benches facing slow services and extended waiting times.
This, together with unsustainable insurance coverage, continues to leave patients stranded and forced to pay for care out of their own pockets.