Business

Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management

The Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management is a postgraduate programme that equips healthcare professionals and managers with advanced business and management skills specific to the healthcare sector. The programme combines MBA core disciplines with specialised healthcare management training, preparing leaders for the complex and evolving healthcare industry.

Core areas of study include healthcare systems and policy, healthcare finance and economics, healthcare operations management, strategic management in healthcare, healthcare quality and patient safety, health information systems, healthcare marketing, human resource management in healthcare, healthcare law and ethics, healthcare project management, and research methods. Students engage with both Kenyan and international healthcare systems.

The programme is offered by Strathmore University through its Business School (SBS), a leading business school in East Africa with AACSB accreditation. SBS offers the programme in modular format with two-week full-time modules every three months, designed for working healthcare professionals. The programme includes collaborative online international learning courses.

Students develop competencies in healthcare management, financial analysis, strategic planning, operations management, quality improvement, health policy analysis, healthcare marketing, and leadership. The programme combines coursework, case studies, examinations, and a dissertation, integrating business theory with healthcare sector application.

The programme runs for six semesters over thirty months, with eighteen course units plus a dissertation. The modular delivery format allows healthcare professionals to study while continuing their careers. Classes are conducted in-person at Strathmore Business School in Nairobi.

Graduates pursue careers as hospital administrators, healthcare consultants, healthcare programme managers, health insurance managers, pharmaceutical company managers, healthcare policy analysts, and healthcare entrepreneurs in hospitals, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, NGOs, government health agencies, and international health organisations.

Skills Required

Healthcare Systems and Policy Analysis
Healthcare Finance and Economics
Healthcare Operations Management
Strategic Management in Healthcare
Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
Health Information Systems Management
Healthcare Human Resource Management
Healthcare Law and Ethics
Healthcare Project Management
Healthcare Leadership and Change Management

Key Subjects

Healthcare Systems and Policy
Healthcare Finance and Economics
Healthcare Operations Management
Strategic Management in Healthcare
Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
Health Information Systems
Healthcare Marketing
Human Resource Management in Healthcare
Healthcare Law and Ethics
Healthcare Project Management

Certifications

Certified Healthcare Manager (CHM)
Strathmore Healthcare Management Certification

Specializations

Hospital Administration

Focuses on hospital management, healthcare operations, facility management, patient flow optimisation, and hospital financial management in healthcare facilities.

Healthcare Finance

Examines healthcare finance, health insurance, healthcare cost management, revenue cycle management, and financial analysis in healthcare organisations.

Healthcare Quality and Safety

Covers healthcare quality improvement, patient safety frameworks, accreditation standards, clinical governance, and quality management systems in healthcare.

Health Policy and Management

Explores health policy analysis, healthcare system design, public health management, health sector reform, and policy advocacy in healthcare.

Health Information Systems

Focuses on health information technology, electronic health records, telemedicine, health data management, and digital transformation in healthcare.

Pharmaceutical Management

Covers pharmaceutical industry management, drug supply chain, pharmaceutical marketing, regulatory affairs, and pharmaceutical business strategy.

Health Insurance Management

Examines health insurance operations, insurance product design, claims management, risk assessment, and health insurance regulation.

Global Health Management

Explores global health systems, international health organisations, global health policy, and comparative healthcare management across countries.

Duration: 2.5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 164,190
Private, up to: Ksh 751,843
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Evening, Modular
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Healthcare Systems and Policy
Healthcare Finance and Economics
Healthcare Operations Management
Strategic Management in Healthcare
Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
Health Information Systems
Healthcare Marketing
Human Resource Management in Healthcare
Healthcare Law and Ethics
Healthcare Project Management

Modules

10 in the programme

Healthcare Systems and Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines healthcare systems in Kenya and globally, health policy frameworks, healthcare financing systems, and the policy environment shaping healthcare delivery.
Healthcare Finance and Economics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers healthcare finance, health economics, cost analysis, revenue cycle management, healthcare budgeting, and financial management in healthcare organisations.
Healthcare Operations Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines healthcare operations, process improvement, supply chain management, patient flow optimisation, and operational efficiency in healthcare facilities.
Strategic Management in Healthcare
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers strategic planning, competitive analysis, business strategy development, and strategic decision-making specific to healthcare organisations and markets.
Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines healthcare quality improvement, patient safety frameworks, accreditation standards, clinical governance, and quality management systems in healthcare.
Health Information Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers health information technology, electronic health records, telemedicine, health data management, and digital transformation in healthcare delivery.
Human Resource Management in Healthcare
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines HR management specific to healthcare, including healthcare workforce planning, medical staff management, performance management, and healthcare labour relations.
Healthcare Law and Ethics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers healthcare law, medical ethics, regulatory frameworks, patient rights, healthcare compliance, and ethical decision-making in healthcare management.
Healthcare Marketing and Strategy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines healthcare marketing, patient experience management, healthcare brand strategy, and marketing of healthcare services in competitive healthcare markets.
Dissertation
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research dissertation on a healthcare management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and healthcare management theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Hospital Administration
Focuses on hospital management, healthcare operations, facility management, patient flow optimisation, and hospital financial management in healthcare facilities.
Healthcare Finance
Examines healthcare finance, health insurance, healthcare cost management, revenue cycle management, and financial analysis in healthcare organisations.
Healthcare Quality and Safety
Covers healthcare quality improvement, patient safety frameworks, accreditation standards, clinical governance, and quality management systems in healthcare.
Health Policy and Management
Explores health policy analysis, healthcare system design, public health management, health sector reform, and policy advocacy in healthcare.
Health Information Systems
Focuses on health information technology, electronic health records, telemedicine, health data management, and digital transformation in healthcare.
Pharmaceutical Management
Covers pharmaceutical industry management, drug supply chain, pharmaceutical marketing, regulatory affairs, and pharmaceutical business strategy.
Health Insurance Management
Examines health insurance operations, insurance product design, claims management, risk assessment, and health insurance regulation.
Global Health Management
Explores global health systems, international health organisations, global health policy, and comparative healthcare management across countries.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending intensive modular sessions at Strathmore Business School during two-week module periods. Lectures cover healthcare finance, operations management, strategic management, or health policy. Case study discussions analyse real healthcare management challenges faced by hospitals, insurance companies, and health systems. Group projects involve developing healthcare business plans, quality improvement proposals, or health policy briefs. The modular format means students engage in full-day sessions with evening reading and assignment preparation. Between modules, students complete assignments, readings, and workplace-based projects applying learning to their healthcare organisations. Guest lectures from hospital CEOs, health insurance executives, pharmaceutical company leaders, and international health consultants provide industry insights. Those in the dissertation phase conduct independent research on healthcare management topics, working under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offered at Strathmore Business School with AACSB accreditation, ensuring international quality standards and recognition.
Modular format allows working healthcare professionals to study while continuing their careers, with minimal disruption.
Kenya's growing healthcare sector creates strong demand for qualified healthcare management professionals across hospitals, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.
Programme combines MBA core disciplines with healthcare specialisation, providing versatile business and sector-specific expertise.

Against it

Strathmore's programme cost of KES 1,879,608 is significantly higher than public university alternatives, requiring substantial investment or employer sponsorship.
Programme requires Graduate Entrance Exam (GEE) and interview, adding complexity to the admission process.
Thirty-month duration is longer than typical two-year MBA programmes, requiring extended commitment.
Programme quality and content may vary significantly between Strathmore and other listed offering institutions.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public164k to 164k

164k at Kirinyaga University164k at Kirinyaga University

Private231k to 752k

231k at KCA University752k at Strathmore 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

Kirinyaga MBA 164,190 Yr1 (eafinder). Strathmore MBA-HCM 1.88M/2.5yr (SBS). KCA MBA 461,535/2yr (KCA PDF).

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Healthcare employers including hospitals, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies commonly sponsor staff for MBA Healthcare Management. Strathmore Business School offers limited financial aid.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Employer Sponsorship
Strathmore Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Employer Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 1,879,608
Healthcare professionals sponsored by hospitals, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, or health NGOs for career advancement in healthcare management.
Strathmore Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
Strathmore Business School students demonstrating academic merit and financial need. Limited partial scholarships available.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Applicants must submit a detailed CV, two reference letters (one professional and one academic/personal), certified copies of degree certificates and transcripts, and pay an application fee of KES 5,000. The programme is delivered in modular format with two-week full-time modules every three months, designed for working healthcare professionals.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
CATs, case study analysis, healthcare management essays, business plan development, and seminar presentations conducted during and between modular sessions.
Practical Projects
Practical30% of the mark
Workplace-based projects applying learning to students' healthcare organisations, including quality improvement proposals, financial analyses, and strategic plans.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-module examination covering healthcare management theory, finance, operations, and policy, including case analysis and essay questions.
Dissertation
Research100% of the mark
Original research dissertation on a healthcare management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and healthcare management theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Strathmore Business School holds AACSB accreditation, a prestigious international business school accreditation. Strathmore University, Maseno University, KCA University, and Kirinyaga University are all CUE-accredited institutions.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Strathmore University, Maseno University, KCA University, and Kirinyaga University are all CUE-accredited institutions.
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
International business school accreditation
Strathmore Business School holds AACSB accreditation, a prestigious international business school accreditation recognised globally, ensuring high academic quality standards.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Hospital Administrator
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages hospital operations, overseeing clinical services, finance, human resources, and strategic planning in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Healthcare Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides consulting services on healthcare management, strategy, operations, and quality improvement for healthcare organisations and international health agencies.
Health Insurance Manager
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages health insurance operations including product development, claims management, provider networks, and insurance regulation in health insurance companies.
Healthcare Programme Manager
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages healthcare programmes and projects in NGOs, international organisations, or government, overseeing implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Pharmaceutical Company Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages pharmaceutical company operations including sales, marketing, supply chain, or regulatory affairs in the pharmaceutical industry.
Healthcare Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 380,000
Analyses health policy and healthcare system issues for government agencies, think tanks, or international organisations, providing evidence-based recommendations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as hospital administrators, healthcare consultants, healthcare programme managers, and health insurance managers in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, NGOs, and government health agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SAP Healthcare
SoftwarePrimary
Enterprise resource planning software for healthcare organisations, managing patient data, finance, supply chain, and operations in healthcare facilities.
Tableau
SoftwarePrimary
Data visualisation and analytics platform for healthcare data analysis, performance dashboards, and healthcare business intelligence.
Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for financial analysis, budgeting, data management, and reporting in healthcare management.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for healthcare research, patient data analysis, and programme evaluation in healthcare management.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

MBA Healthcare Management is only for doctors.
The programme is designed for healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds including administrators, nurses, pharmacists, insurers, and managers, not only doctors.
This MBA is the same as a general MBA.
The programme combines MBA core disciplines with specialised healthcare management training, providing sector-specific knowledge that a general MBA does not cover.
Healthcare management is just hospital administration.
The programme covers the entire healthcare sector including hospitals, insurance, pharmaceuticals, public health, health technology, and global health, offering diverse career paths.
You need a medical background to study healthcare management.
The programme accepts graduates from business, management, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and other related fields, as healthcare management requires diverse professional perspectives.
Healthcare management has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kenya's growing healthcare sector, expanding health insurance coverage, and increasing private sector investment create strong demand for qualified healthcare management professionals.
The modular format is less rigorous than regular programmes.
The modular format covers the same academic content in intensive blocks, designed for experienced professionals who bring practical healthcare experience to enrich classroom learning.