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Diploma in Health Records and Information Management

The Diploma in Health Records and Information Management is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in diploma in health records and information management. The programme falls under the Health Sciences category and typically spans 3 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 122,200
Ksh 366,600 total
Private tuition
Ksh 150,000
Ksh 450,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 122,200 a year at a public institution, Ksh 366,600 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 150,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C- (Minus) or above, plus 2 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 36 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

The curriculum covers Health Information Management, Health Informatics, Health Data Governance, Medical Coding, Healthcare Statistics, EHR Management. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Biochemistry, Biology, Clinical Research Management, Disease Surveillance, Epidemiology. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Communication Skills, Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Information, Entrepreneurship, Health Records Management, Health Systems and Policy. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Health Data Governance, Health Information Management, Health Informatics. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Diploma in Health Records and Information Management pursue careers as Health Informatics Officer, Health Data Officer, Health Records Manager, Health Information Manager. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

What you study

8 subjects
  • Health Information Management
  • Health Informatics
  • Health Data Governance
  • Medical Coding
  • Healthcare Statistics
  • EHR Management
  • Health Systems
  • Project Management

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Health Information Management Fundamentals

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Health information management principles, health information profession for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Communication Skills

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Health communication, management communication, and professional communication for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • ICT and Health Informatics

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Health informatics, health IT, EHR systems, DHIS2, and health information for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Entrepreneurship

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Health information consultancy, health data services, and entrepreneurial for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Medical Terminology and Anatomy

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and medical science for health for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Health Records Management

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Health records management, records administration, patient registration for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Medical Coding and Classification

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Medical coding, ICD-10, ICD-11, classification systems, and disease for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Healthcare Statistics

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Healthcare statistics, health indicators, morbidity, mortality for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Electronic Health Records Management

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    EHR management, EHR systems, EHR implementation, EHR standards for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Health Data Governance and Quality

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Data governance, data quality, data standards, data protection for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Project Management for Health Information

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Project management, health information projects, M&E, and project for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Research Methods in Health

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Research methods, health research, data collection, statistical analysis for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

  • Health Informatics

    Manage health informatics systems and digital health solutions, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Health Data Governance

    Manage health data governance and ensure data quality, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Medical Coding

    Apply medical coding and classification systems, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards, regulatory requirements, and professional best practices.

  • Health Information Management

    Manage health information departments and operations, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

A day as a student

Students attend theory lectures on health information management, combined with practical sessions in computer labs and hospital information departments. Activities include EHR system management, health data analysis, medical coding, health statistics, data governance, research, health system evaluation, and project management. Industrial attachment at hospitals, Ministry of Health, or health NGOs provides real-world experience.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Digital health transformation creates strong demandRequires both health knowledge and IT skills
Management role with better earning potentialHandling sensitive patient data requires strict compliance
Pathway to degree in health information management or public health—

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses
Public67k to 122k
67k at Public TVET College (standardised rate)122k at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Year 1
Private72k to 150k
72k at College of Human Resource Management150k at WICHS University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TVET 67K, KMTC 122K/yr public. CHRM 72K, WICHS 150K/yr private (chrm.or.ke, wichs).

HELB TVET loans available (KES 40,000-60,000 per year). Under the new funding model, government scholarships cover 38-82% of fees depending on need category. NG-CDF and county bursaries also available.

Funding options

  • HELB TVET Loan

  • NG-CDF Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

  • NG-CDF Bursary

    BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan

    Needy students in respective constituencies.

  • HELB TVET/Diploma Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan citizens enrolled in TVET-accredited programmes.

Scholarships you could apply for

6 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C- (Minus)minimum entry
Alternative entry

Certificate in Health Records, Medical Records, Information Management, or related field from a recognized institution.

Subject requirements
English or KiswahiliC-
Biology or MathematicsD

When it next starts

Taught at 36 institutions
January 202736 institutions

Including Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Kenya Methodist University, Technical University of Kenya.

May 202736 institutions

Including Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Kenya Methodist University, Technical University of Kenya.

September 202736 institutions

Including Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Kenya Methodist University, Technical University of Kenya.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Continuous Assessment

    Cat20% of the mark

    Internal continuous assessment including assignments, practical exercises, and management projects.

  • Practical Assessment

    Practical20% of the mark

    Practical assessment: EHR operation, data analysis, or health information project.

  • Module Examination

    Exam60% of the mark

    KNEC modular examination at the end of each module.

Accreditation

  • Kenya National Examinations Council

    Examination and certificationRequired

    Examining body for health information management programmes.

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    Institutional accreditationRequired

    Accredits institutions offering health information management training.

Accredited by TVETA. Examined by KNEC (modular system). This is a more advanced programme than the basic health records diploma, with greater emphasis on management and informatics.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Health Informatics Officer

    Medium demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 95,000

    Manage health informatics systems, support digital health, and implement health IT solutions.

  • Health Data Officer

    High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 90,000

    Manage health data, analyze health indicators, produce reports, and support data-driven decision-making.

  • Health Records Manager

    High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 95,000

    Manage health records operations, oversee records staff, and ensure records compliance and quality.

  • Health Information Manager

    High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 100,000

    Manage health information departments, oversee EHR systems, ensure data quality, and lead health information operations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as health information managers, health records managers, health data officers, health informatics officers, and M&E officers in hospitals, county governments, Ministry of Health, NGOs, and health insurance companies. Starting salaries range from KES 40,000-95,000.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Google Workspace

    Productivity suite

  • OpenMRS

    Database

  • ODK (Open Data Kit)

    Database

  • KenyaEMR

    Medical

  • Microsoft Excel

    Data analysisPrimary

  • Excel

    Spreadsheet

  • SQL

    Database

  • DHIS2

    Health information systemPrimary

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Health information management is just data entry.

    Health information management covers health informatics, data governance, medical coding, healthcare statistics, EHR management, health systems, research methods, and project management — it is a health information leadership and management discipline.

  • Graduates of this programme end up unemployed in Kenya.

    Kenya's expanding sectors create steady demand for diploma holders, with opportunities in county governments, private companies, and self-employment.

Further reading

Read next