DODOMA: AS the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH) aspires to become Africa’s centre of excellence for offering cancer treatment, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and HIV/AIDS has urged the Health Ministry to foster the implementation of a 38bn/- radiotherapy building project at the facility to be accomplished on time.
The Committee members led by the chairman, Mr Hassan Mtenga inspected the 57 per cent complete multibillion project in Dodoma recently, expressing their satisfaction with the implementation of the project, urging the Ministry of Health to meet with the Finance Ministry for the release of more funds in order to complete the project.
Mr Mtenga commended the government for the initiative, insisting that it will help to decongest the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Dar es Salaam as well as boosting medical tourism.
“We inspected the building and we have seen what is going on here. We thank President Samia Suluhu Hassan for this initiative geared to save the health of Tanzanians hence we want to ensure the project is well managed,” he said.
The chairperson said the committee has tour myriads of health projects which are currently being executed in four regions, saying the sixth phase government has injected billions of money to improve the sector “We came here last year.
ALSO READ: Govt confident of producing more radiotherapy physicians
We didn’t think that we would find this structure as it is right now. We appreciate the work but we urge you to take the work on the committee’s recommendation,” he said.
On his Part, Health Deputy Minister Dr Godwin Mollel said that his docket will work on MPs recommendations to ensure that the project is completed on time.
“The implementation of this project is not accidental. It reflects President Samia’s effort to boost medical tourism. The government has set aside funds for execution of the project before the USA comes in with more support,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the committee members commended the management and staff for the improved healthcare services offered at BMH, asking the government to do whatever possible to elevate the facility to become a national hospital.
Reacting, Dr Mollel said it is a process but the government is continuing to support the hospital in order to introduce more specialised and super specialised health care services to boost medical tourism drive.
