Tanzania’s medical tourism goes sky-high, it’s in Africa’s top-five list

DAR ES SALAAM: The Director of Economic Diplomacy and International Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador John Ulanga, has revealed that Tanzania has made significant progress in the medical tourism sector, now boasting between 15 and 20 percent  of the market share in the East African region.

Speaking today in Dar es Salaam during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), Ambassador Ulanga noted that the sector has grown by 113.5 percent in a four-year period from 2021 to 2025.

According to him, Tanzania’s main competitors in Africa’s medical tourism market include Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt.

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Outlining government and private sector plans, he stated that Tanzania aims to capture 30 to 40 percent  of the medical tourism market by 2035, and attract over 30,000 international patients annually by the year 2030.

“Currently, Tanzania serves an average of 12,180 international patients per year from over 16 African countries. We are seeing a consistent annual growth rate of 16.3percent  in international patient numbers,” he said.

He emphasized that investment in the medical tourism sector not only contributes to national and foreign revenue but also boosts employment, improves the quality of healthcare services, and enhances the overall standard of living for Tanzanians.