BMH recognised as medical tourism injects 167bn/- in national economy
DODOMA: The contribution of medical tourism to the national economy has reached 166.5bn/- thanks to improvements in the health sector that have significantly attracted more international patients seeking specialized and super-specialized medical care in Tanzania.
Vice President Dr Philip Mpango said this in Dodoma yesterday during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the construction of the Cancer Training and Treatment Centre and the inauguration of the Kidney Transplant Centre at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH) on the outskirts of the capital city.
Elaborating, Dr Mpango said the number of international patients entering the country for medical care has doubled from 5,700 in 2021 to 12,180 recorded this year.
“In the area of medical tourism, we recognize the role played by Benjamin Mkapa Hospital as a result of the government’s investment in infrastructure, equipment, and specialists at the hospital,” he noted.
Regarding BMH’s investments in specialized and super-specialized medical care, the Vice President described the move as an opportunity to expand medical tourism, attract more patients from neighbouring countries, improve the standard of health services in the country, strengthen diplomatic relations, and boost national income.
To elevate medical tourism further, the Vice President advised BMH, in partnership with the private sector or Dodoma City Council, to construct a special building to accommodate relatives and patients from upcountry and abroad who come to the capital for medical services.
He also called for greater investment in public education on non-communicable diseases to empower communities to fight lifestyle illnesses.
Dr Mpango praised the hospital and the University of Dodoma (UDOM) for securing a 28bn/- project aimed at establishing a state-of-the-art kidney transplant centre in the capital. He thanked Japan-based TOKUSHUKAI Organisation for funding the project, which will position Tanzania as a regional hub for kidney transplants in East Africa.
For his part, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Seif Shekalaghe, said the Sixth-Phase Government’s investment of over 1.3tri/- in the health sector has significantly improved healthcare services across the country.
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He noted that this progress led to President Samia Suluhu Hassan receiving the prestigious Global Goalkeeper Award from the Gates Foundation on February 4, 2025, in recognition of Tanzania’s remarkable achievements in maternal, newborn, child nutrition and health (MNCNH).
Meanwhile, BMH Executive Director Prof Abel Makubi said the Central Zone referral hospital now offers high-quality specialized and super-specialized health services previously unavailable in the country, using modern science.
He highlighted that BMH provides comprehensive treatment for kidney-related diseases and kidney transplants, bone marrow transplants and hematology, penile transplantation, cardiology and open-heart surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics and traumatology, oncology, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures.
Earlier, BMH Board of Trustees Chairperson Prof Edward Hoseah asked the government to upgrade the hospital from a zonal health facility to a national hospital due to the advanced services offered at the Dodoma-based facility. He also called for an increase in staff numbers, staff housing, and vehicles.
However, Vice President Mpango assured that the government will work on the challenges presented.
