By Collins Ngeno, Group Technology Director, Smart Applications International Limited
In every era, society has looked to the horizon and imagined what the future might hold. For some, it was the dream of flying machines. For others, it was cures for incurable diseases. Today, we find ourselves on the cusp of a future where technology and imagination collide, not in theory, but in active, accelerating reality.
At Smart Applications International, we don’t just innovate, we fantasise. We allow ourselves to ask, “what if?” not to escape the present, but to reshape it. Because sometimes, fantasy is not a retreat, it’s a strategic vision.
The Lanes into the Future: Our Pathways
Let’s imagine for a moment:
- A mother in Turkana dons augmented reality (AR) glasses, connected to a national health access platform, and speaks to a paediatrician in Nairobi, in real time.
- A health worker uses a holographic diagnostic interface, powered by cloud-based AI, to explain a child’s treatment plan to a concerned parent, with visual overlays in the parent’s language.
- A patient is greeted at a hospital gate not by a receptionist, but by a humanoid assistant, designed with empathy protocols and local language support, checking them in with facial recognition, biometric validation, and predictive triage algorithms that prioritise care dynamically.
These are not just scenes from a sci-fi script. These are the lanes into the future that Smart is actively preparing for. And they require bold thinking, resilient infrastructure, and, most importantly, a relentless willingness to imagine.
Fantasies of the Future in Smart’s View
We see three powerful lanes shaping the future of healthcare access:
1. The Metaverse Clinic
The healthcare experience is going virtual. According to a report by Accenture, 42% of healthcare executives globally say the metaverse will have a breakthrough or transformational impact on their organisation in the next decade.
In a Smart-enabled future, an insured member enters a metaverse consultation room, represented by an avatar that mirrors their expressions. Their medical file appears on a floating interface; biometric vitals ping live to a physician seated 300 kilometres away.
Already, in the U.S., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is piloting virtual reality therapies for pain management and mental health, showing the metaverse is not just futuristic, but already functional.
Healthcare will no longer be bound by geography or physical walls. It will become spatial, immersive, and deeply human-centric.
2. AR-Enhanced Decision Making
The power of Augmented Reality in healthcare is already being realized. In 2023, the global market for AR in healthcare was valued at USD 2.9 billion and is projected to hit USD 9.8 billion by 2028 (MarketsandMarkets).
Imagine a rural nurse in Isiolo wearing AR glasses. Real-time prompts guide them on symptoms, drug interactions, and treatment protocols based on AI-driven analysis of the patient in front of them.
This technology has already been trialled in surgical environments; Johns Hopkins University completed the first spinal surgery using AR guidance with 100% accuracy and faster outcomes.
For Smart, this kind of interface can support front-line workers, reduce errors, and democratise quality care across urban and rural divides.
3. Robotics & Predictive AI in Access Systems
Smart already leverages biometric authentication, digital insurance cards, and real-time verification. The next frontier will include:
- Robotic triage assistants powered by empathy AI, capable of reading facial expressions, identifying stress markers, and escalating critical cases faster than manual systems.
- Drones delivering blood samples and vaccines to remote labs, a model already proven by Zipline, which has completed over 500,000 medical deliveries in Rwanda and Ghana.
- Predictive AI that informs hospital staffing and inventory based on emerging disease trends. According to a McKinsey report, predictive analytics in healthcare can reduce hospital readmissions by up to 20% and improve inventory planning by over 30%.
We imagine a Smart system that learns from every patient interaction, anticipates needs, and evolves in real-time, reducing friction, cutting wait times, and ultimately saving lives.
Why Fantasies Matter
Some may ask — why dream so boldly? Why imagine scenes of holographic diagnostics or robotic check-ins in contexts where basic healthcare infrastructure is still under strain?
Because dreams build solutions.
In Kenya alone, over 11.5 million people still face challenges accessing quality healthcare (Ministry of Health, Kenya). These gaps persist not due to a lack of potential, but often, due to a lack of bold reimagination.
When we fantasise and prototype from that imagination, we attract investment, inform national digital strategies, and guide policymakers toward what is not just possible, but necessary.
At Smart Applications International, our mission is to create convenience and transform healthcare delivery through innovative digital solutions. Behind this mission lies a belief: That the future is not something to wait for. It is something to co-create.
We are not merely service providers. We are creators of digital ecosystems that serve people, especially where access is most limited. We believe that by dreaming boldly, designing ethically, and building inclusively, we can make futuristic healthcare accessible, not just in theory, but in practice.
This is why Smart invests in biometric platforms used by over 70 insurance providers and 6,000 healthcare facilities across Africa, serving millions of insured lives.
It’s why we envision a future where our Smart Access App isn’t just a digital card, but a gateway to immersive teleconsultation, symptom triaging via chatbots, and smart scheduling powered by AI.
About the Author
Collins Ngeno is the Group Technology Director at Smart Applications International Limited, where he leads the company’s technical strategy and innovation across Africa. He holds degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science, Information Systems, and Finance, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science. Collins is passionate about using technology to drive impactful change and shape a smarter, more connected future.
About Smart Applications International
Smart Applications International Limited (Smart) is a leader in Healthcare Information Technology and is at the forefront of delivering meaningful human-centric innovations across Africa and beyond. By leveraging our over 2 decades of experience in delivering digital solutions that drive efficiency and cost savings for healthcare institutions we can meet the dynamic market needs.
Our years of innovation are cemented by a cross-functional team of medics, software engineers, business analysts, and project managers who guarantee project success. We have over 8,000+ network of Smart-Enabled Medical Services Providers cutting across 47 Counties in Kenya and 12 Countries in Africa. We are also a credible and internationally recognized institution that has achieved ISO Certifications on System Quality, Process Quality, and Process Governance. ISO/IEC 27001:2013, ISO 22301:2019 and ISO 9001. (https://smartapplicationsgroup.com/)