Medical tourism injects 166.5bn/- into national economy
DODOMA: THE contribution of medical tourism to national economy has reached 166.5bn/-, driven by significant improvements in the health sector that have attracted more international patients seeking specialised and super-specialised medical care in the country.
Vice-President Dr Philip Mpango made the remarks yesterday in Dodoma during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the construction of the Cancer Training and Treatment Centre and the inauguration of the Kidney Transplant Centre at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH).
Dr Mpango said that the number of international patients coming to Tanzania for medical treatment has more than doubled from 5,700 in 2021 to 12,180 this year.
“In medical tourism, Benjamin Mkapa Hospital has played a pivotal role, thanks to government investments in infrastructure, advanced medical equipment and specialist expertise,” he said.
Describing BMH’s investments in specialised care as an opportunity to expand medical tourism, the Vice-President noted that these efforts not only attract patients from neighboring countries but also improve national healthcare standards, strengthen diplomatic relations and boost the country’s income.
To further enhance medical tourism, Dr Mpango tasked BMH, in partnership with the private sector or Dodoma City Council, to build dedicated accommodation facilities for patients and their relatives coming from other regions and abroad.
He also called for increased public education on non-communicable diseases to empower communities in combating lifestyle-related illnesses.
Dr Mpango praised BMH and the University of Dodoma (UDOM) for securing a 28bn/- project to establish a state-of-the-art kidney transplant centre in Dodoma.
He expressed gratitude to Japan’s TOKUSHUKAI Organisation for funding the initiative, which will position Tanzania as a regional hub for kidney transplants in East Africa.
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Earlier, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Seif Shekalaghe said the sixth-phase government has invested over 1.3tri/- in the health sector, significantly improving healthcare services nationwide.
He noted that this progress contributed to President Samia Suluhu Hassan receiving the prestigious Global Goalkeeper Award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on February 4th this year, in recognition of Tanzania’s remarkable achievements in maternal, newborn, child nutrition, and health (MNCNH).
BMH Executive Director Professor Abel Makubi said the hospital, as the Central Zone referral facility, now offers advanced specialised and super specialised health services previously unavailable in Tanzania, using modern medical technologies.
He outlined services including comprehensive treatment for kidney diseases and transplants, bone marrow transplantation and hematology, penile transplantation, cardiology and open-heart surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics and traumatology, oncology, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and minimally invasive laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures.
Earlier, BMH Board of Trustees Chairperson Professor Edward Hoseah appealed to the government to upgrade the hospital from a zonal referral centre to a national hospital, reflecting the advanced services offered.
He also called for increased staffing, improved staff housing, and additional vehicles.
