Arusha steps up emergency care to boost medical tourism

ARUSHA: THE government is strengthening emergency medical services in Arusha to improve safety for residents, tourists and conference participants, while positioning the region as a medical tourism hub.

Arumeru District Commissioner Neema Lugangira, representing Arusha Regional Commissioner CPA Amos Makalla, said the government was investing in health infrastructure, medical equipment and specialist services to improve emergency response across the region.

Speaking at the Eighth African Conference on Emergency Medicine (AfCEM 2026) in Arusha, she said all six councils in the region had established emergency medicine departments, while Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital and Karatu District Hospital had oxygen plants.

She said the government was also constructing a district hospital in central Arusha, which would include a helipad to facilitate the evacuation of patients requiring emergency care from national parks, tourist destinations and other parts of the region.

ALSO READ:Milestone in Tanzania’s emergency care services

The helipad is expected to ease the transfer of patients from remote locations to health facilities, particularly in emergencies involving tourists and other visitors.

Ms Lugangira said the government was continuing to strengthen emergency care infrastructure and expand access to specialist services to ensure that residents and visitors received timely medical attention.

She added that preparations ahead of AFCON 2027 included increasing the number of health professionals and improving emergency medical services to enable Arusha to respond to the needs of residents and visitors from across the world.