Jayesh Saini: A Determined Business Leader Transforming Kenya’s Healthcare System

In a world where the threat of diseases looms large, access to reliable healthcare services is a beacon of hope. Africa, particularly, has faced numerous epidemics, with many of its citizens lacking access to quality healthcare. Kenya is no exception, facing challenges like an inadequate healthcare workforce to serve its growing population. However, leaders like Jayesh Saini, founder and chairman of Lifecare Group, have stepped up, making a significant impact on Kenya’s healthcare landscape and inspiring others to do the same. His dedication to uplifting Kenya’s healthcare system is reshaping the sector, bringing quality services to more people than ever before.

Recognized as the Iconic Business Leader of the Year 2022 by Prime Insights, Jayesh Saini exemplifies purposeful leadership that drives change in the healthcare system. His commitment to affordable healthcare through Lifecare and Bliss Healthcare has created a comprehensive network of hospitals and medical centers across Kenya, benefiting urban and rural communities alike. His mission aligns with Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals, promoting equitable healthcare for all citizens, as envisaged by His Excellency William Ruto

Jayesh Saini’s Visionary Journey Begins

Mr. Jayesh Saini’s journey began in 2012, motivated by his father, Dr. Umesh Saini, a visionary medic who came to Kenya with dreams of transforming healthcare. His fathern studied medicine at Sawai Man Singh Medical College in Jaipur, India, and later founded Nairobi West Hospital in the 1980s. Starting as a pioneering private healthcare institution, Nairobi West Hospital has grown into a state-of-the-art, 400-bed facility, providing high-quality healthcare services.

The inspiration from his father and his commitment to service motivated Jayesh Saini to establish his healthcare initiatives. His goal has always been to provide accessible, high-quality healthcare to underserved communities. By 2017, he and his wife, Dr. Shalya Saini, founded LifeCare Hospitals, expanding healthcare access with a particular focus on regions in Kenya and East Africa with limited medical facilities. An initiative aimed at improving healthcare access & financial protection for all citizens, including Civil Servants, Teachers, National Police Service (NPS) & Teacher Service Commission (TSC)

Making Healthcare Accessible and Affordable
In his career, Jayesh Saini has observed firsthand the struggles of patients from rural areas who must travel long distances to Nairobi for medical care. This often leads to complications or even fatalities due to the time spent on the road. Moved by these challenges, he aimed to bring quality healthcare closer to where people live, eliminating unnecessary travel and making medical services more affordable.


Bliss Healthcare, a significant milestone in Jayesh Saini‘s journey, stands as Kenya’s largest network of outpatient centers, strategically located to serve a broad patient base. Alongside this, his investment in Medicross Limited, with its 11 centers, and the establishment of LifeCare Hospitals have created a comprehensive medical system that caters to a wide range of healthcare needs, from general outpatient services to specialized inpatient care.

The group provides healthcare services to clients from prominent institutions, such as the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Teachers Service Commission (TSC), National Police Service (NPS), Civil Servants, Corporate entities, and various leading Insurance companies.

Excellence in Quality and Standards
For Jayesh Saini, quality is paramount in healthcare. LifeCare Hospitals operates under strict quality management policies, ensuring consistent, top-notch service across all facilities. With a mission rooted in compassion, excellence, and accountability, LifeCare Hospitals primarily serves lower-income communities in Kenya, where access to affordable healthcare is most critical.

Embracing Technological Advancements
LifeCare and Bliss Healthcare, under Jayesh Saini’s leadership, stay at the forefront of healthcare innovation by embracing new digital trends. They have integrated telemedicine—a necessity born from the COVID-19 pandemic—allowing patients to connect with healthcare professionals remotely. Today, more than 10,000 patients benefit from telemedicine services each month, making quality healthcare available from the comfort of their homes.

In addition to advancing telemedicine, LifeCare and Bliss Healthcare have incorporated robust fraud detection measures to safeguard their healthcare operations. Utilizing AI-driven technology, they monitor and analyze patterns in billing, patient records, and service usage to detect and prevent any potential fraud, scams, or misuse of health schemes.

By analyzing large datasets, AI algorithms spot anomalies that might indicate fraud, such as duplicated charges, inflated billing, or suspicious insurance claims, incorrect and overstated medical diagnosis, collusion and cartel by healthcare providers to increase billings and claims, medical funds theft and heist. This advanced fraud detection system ensures continuous monitoring, regular audit investigation and probe on hospital fund, and ensures that financial resources are safeguarded, keeping healthcare costs down, avoiding any medical and financial scandal, and promoting trustworthiness in the system. Additionally, these systems are enhancing transparency in operations, building patient confidence in LifeCare and Bliss Healthcare as ethical and responsible healthcare providers.

This proactive approach supports Jayesh Saini’s vision of a transparent healthcare system, ensuring that resources are directed toward genuine patient care and that all healthcare funds are responsibly allocated. These efforts align with initiatives to enhance healthcare services for institutions like the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and other reputable bodies. By prioritizing fraud detection and security, LifeCare ensures that its healthcare services remain reliable, accessible, and secure for all patients.

A Vision for Expanding Access

LifeCare Hospitals are currently located in Bungoma, Kikuyu, Meru, and Migori, with Jayesh Saini setting ambitious plans for further expansion. He aims to establish six additional hospitals in Kenya, increasing the total bed capacity to over 2,600 by 2025. Plans are also in place for facilities in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, with each hospital set to offer super-specialty clinics in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, and more. By 2027, the combined bed capacity is projected to exceed 4,100 beds, complemented by intensive care units, high dependency units, and advanced diagnostic centers across East Africa.

Achieving Recognition and Milestones

LifeCare Hospitals earned the 2021 Quality Healthcare Kenya Award for Innovation, reflecting the organization’s commitment to impactful healthcare solutions. Meanwhile, Bliss Healthcare, the first of Jayesh Saini‘s healthcare ventures, has established partnerships with major health bodies, corporations, and insurers to ensure more people can access quality services. Jayesh Saini has been honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award in NRI” for his dedication to affordable healthcare in Kenya.

Investing in Kenya’s Healthcare Workforce
Jayesh Saini understands that a strong healthcare system requires a skilled and motivated workforce. Under his leadership, LifeCare employs over 4,000 professionals across Kenya. Bliss Healthcare alone operates 65 centers in 37 counties, providing services to over 80,000 patients monthly. Each center is equipped with advanced technology, including CT scans, ultrasounds, X-ray machines, dental units, and optical units, ensuring patients receive consistent, high-quality care.

By 2027, LifeCare aims to employ more than 10,000 professionals across East Africa. Jayesh Saini’s focus on creating a supportive work environment includes ongoing training, employee recognition programs, and fostering a culture of respect and growth.

Dedication to Research and Development
Research and development play a significant role in Jayesh Saini’s healthcare strategy. LifeCare and Bliss have implemented a Chronic Disease Management Program to help patients with long-term conditions like diabetes and hypertension receive continuous care. This program currently supports over 30,000 patients per month, underscoring the commitment to addressing both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Community Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility
Giving back to society is integral to Jayesh Saini’s vision. LifeCare Group, through the Lifecare Foundation, engages in numerous CSR activities, including organizing 100 free medical camps annually, supporting orphanages, and donating to various philanthropic causes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization extended support to children orphaned by the virus, providing financial assistance for their education.

The foundation also extends its support to education by sponsoring the schooling of orphans and underprivileged children, including those from families of Teachers Service Commission (TSC) members, National Police Service (NPS) officers, and Civil Servants. This initiative creates a path to brighter futures for countless young individuals, with over 200 orphans in Kenya benefiting from the program so far. This commitment to education and social impact embodies Jayesh Saini’s vision that healthcare and education should be accessible to all, underscoring his belief in the crucial role that private sector contributions play in uplifting communities and fostering societal well-being.

Driving Economic Growth and Universal Health Coverage
Jayesh Saini also believes in healthcare as a driver of economic growth. His investments in healthcare infrastructure contribute to job creation and community development. Embracing technology to promote efficiency, LifeCare’s ICT systems streamline patient data management and support telemedicine, enabling direct access to medical records across their network.

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has recognized the vital impact of Information Technology on improving healthcare delivery and aims to leverage IT to accelerate the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Agenda of the Government of Kenya as envisaged by His Excellency William Ruto. Mr. Saini emphasizes that collaboration between the government and private sector is essential, as they must work in harmony to complement each other, enhancing service quality and achieving better health outcomes.

Reflecting on his journey, Jayesh Saini cites the immense potential for private investment in Africa’s healthcare sector. He envisions a future where universal health coverage becomes a reality, benefiting from strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors. As he says, “Challenges are the real motivators. One must remain committed to their dream and pursue it despite the obstacles.”
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