HEALTH: President Samia’s trip to India pays off

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA and India have signed three Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) geared to boost the former’s health sector.

Briefing reporters on benefits that Tanzania gained, specifically in the health sector, following President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s State visit to India, Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu said the country has managed to lure pharmaceutical investors from the Asian country.

According to her, Tanzania imports 80 per cent of medicines of which 60 per cent is sourced from Indian manufacturers.

Ms Ummy expressed her optimism with Hester Biosciences Limited (HBL)’s investment in Tanzania’s pharmaceutical sector; the country will be able to supply medicine and medical devices on time as well as cutting costs.

The deal, according to the health Minister, will pave the way for BLK – Max Super Speciality Hospital to extend its wings to Tanzania.

In terms of human capital, she added, the signed MoU will see Tanzanian doctors travelling to the Asian economic powerhouse for training.

“There is one more MoU that is not yet completed and once is done. It’s all about digital health,” she added.

In addition, the minister said that they have opened telemedicine centers at seven regional and and zonal referral hospitals and as of now, experts from Muhimbili National Hospital, Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) and Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) are conducting capacity building to their counterparts especially on orthopedic and neurosurgery services.

On her part, the Director of Presidential Communications, Ms Zuhura Yunus said that in President Samia’s tour to India, the government managed to sign a total of 15 MoUs.

Of the signed deals, 10 involved Tanzania’s public sector while the remaining five were signed between stakeholders from the private sector and their Indian counterparts.