Tanzania expands specialized medical services for heart, cancer, lung, kidney, liver diseases in Southern Highlands

DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government has expanded specialized medical services for diseases including heart conditions, cancer, lung, kidney and liver illnesses across the Southern Highlands, reducing the need for long-distance referrals.

Deputy Minister for Health, Florence Samizi, told Parliamentarians in Dodoma today, May 6, 2026, stating that  the services are now available through regional and zonal referral hospitals.

Additionally, Dr Samizi said the government has continued strengthening specialised care to bring services closer to the people.

Elaborating, she said that the Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital now offers super-specialised services, including heart surgery, neurosurgery, gastrointestinal and liver treatment, as well as respiratory care and neonatal surgery.

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In a related development, she said the government is constructing a dedicated cancer treatment facility in Mbeya under the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI).

Once completed, the ORCI Mbeya Cancer Centre is expected to improve access to cancer care in the zone and cut costs for patients who previously had to travel to Dar es Salaam for treatment.