Superspecialised healthcare at MOI saves 150bn/-
DODOMA: THE Dar es Salaam-based Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute (MOI) has enabled the government to save a significant 149.8bn/- over four years by providing super-specialised healthcare services to 7,366 patients.
Treating these patients at MOI cost only 68.5bn/- , whereas referring the same cases abroad would have cost approximately 218.3bn/-, according to the institute’s performance report since President Samia Suluhu Hassan assumed office.
Presenting the report to journalists in Dodoma yesterday, MOI’s Executive Director, Dr Mpoki Ulisubisya said that after achieving success in orthopaedic, traumatology and neurosurgery services, the institute plans to establish a bone bank and introduce treatment for Parkinson’s disease over the next three years.
The establishment of the bone bank will begin immediately after receiving parliamentary approval.
Dr Ulisubisya said that the government support over the past four years has enabled MOI to improve its facilities, acquire high-tech equipment and enhance human capital.
“There is no need to travel abroad for treatments that can now be accessed in the country,” he said.
He said during this period, MOI provided medical services to 816,383 patients at its Out-Patient Department (OPD) and Emergency Department (EMD), an increase of over 3,000 patients per year.
Dr Ulisubisya said MOI has acquired ICU ventilators, monitors, beds and a modern ambulance worth 1.3bn/-.
Under President Samia’s leadership, the government has also allocated 4.4bn/- for the purchase of MRI and CT scan machines, ensuring MOI provides reliable and timely services. An additional 2.2bn/- has been spent on acquiring modern beds, Xray machines, sterilisers, patient monitors and anaesthesia machines.
Dr Ulisubisya revealed that the construction of a 10.8bn/- OPD building is currently 14 per cent complete. Once finished, it will accommodate over 1,500 patients per day, reducing long queues at the department.
Another ongoing government-funded project is the rehabilitation of the former Tumaini Hospital in Dar es Salaam, which will be used by MOI to provide OPD services. The 1.5bn/- project is 78 per cent complete.
“The completion of these projects will allow MOI to serve between 1,500 and 3,000 patients daily, compared to the current 500-800 patients per day,” he explained.
MOI is also playing a vital role in Tanzania’s medical tourism sector, attracting patients from neighbouring countries, including Zambia, Kenya, Uganda and Comoros, due to its specialised and super-specialised medical services.
Another significant government-funded project is the installation of an oxygen plant, which is now 100 per cent complete. According to Dr Ulisubisya, this 1.7bn/- project will help MOI save approximately 1.2m/- per day.
He said, over the past four years, 44,096 patients received specialised and super-specialised care under MOI’s outreach programme.
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MOI collaborated with several hospitals, including Nyangao (Lindi), Southern Zone Referral Hospital (Mtwara), St Benedikt Hospital (Ndanda, Mtwara), Nkinga Referral Hospital (Tabora), Mnazi Mmoja Hospital (Zanzibar) and Morogoro Regional Referral Hospital.
He said a total of 2,224 patients were reached through MOI’s mobile clinics in Mbagala, Temeke, Gongo la Mboto, Bagamoyo and Morogoro.
