Medical tourism gains momentum as specialized services become more accessible
DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA is increasingly positioning itself to benefit from medical tourism as more specialized healthcare services become available locally, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad in search of treatment.
The development is also opening opportunities for Tanzania to attract patients from other countries, particularly within the East African and Southern African regions, as the country continues to strengthen its capacity to provide specialized medical care.
Speaking on the development, Managing Director of Universal Medical Tourism, Dr Sharif Mollel, said the availability of specialized services in Tanzania gives patients an opportunity to access treatment locally while avoiding the high costs associated with medical travel, including airfares, accommodation, visas and other related expenses.
“Our goal is to see Tanzanians accessing more services right here in the country. If a required service is available in Tanzania, there is no reason for a patient to travel abroad,” he said.
Dr Mollel said patients from East African countries and the SADC region have also started coming to Tanzania to seek medical care, describing the trend as an indication of the country’s potential to become an important healthcare and medical tourism hub in Africa.
“We want to see medical tourism flowing in both directions—not just Tanzanians going abroad for treatment, but also patients from other countries coming to Tanzania to receive care,” he said.
He said Universal Medical Tourism is working with healthcare providers to facilitate access to specialized services, modern medical technologies and different treatment options, including services based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
He explained that modern diagnostic technologies such as ultrasound, CT scans and MRI enable doctors to conduct comprehensive examinations before determining the most appropriate treatment based on a patient’s condition and diagnosis.
Specialized services available include treatment and management of conditions affecting bones and joints, the spine, nervous system and urinary system, as well as physiotherapy and other forms of specialized care.
Dr Mollel also said some patients can access Traditional Chinese Medicine services, including acupuncture, following professional assessment and under the supervision of qualified practitioners.
He stressed that such services are not intended to replace modern medical treatment, but can complement conventional care where recommended by healthcare professionals following assessment of a patient’s condition.
He said the growing availability of specialized healthcare services supports President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision of strengthening Tanzania’s healthcare sector and promoting the country as a destination for quality medical services.
Among the facilities contributing to this development is SINO Hospital in Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, which provides specialized diagnostic and treatment services using modern medical technology. The hospital is owned by Chinese investors in the healthcare sector.
Medical tourism gains momentum as specialized services become more accessible
