Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to introduce liver transplantation services in Tanzania by the end of 2025.
The development is part of the government’s strategic commitment to advance specialized medical care within the country, reducing the reliance on foreign healthcare providers and associated high costs for complex procedures abroad.
In a recent press briefing in Dar es Salaam, MNH Executive Director Prof. Mohamed Janabi detailed the hospital’s progress, stating that MNH has forged strategic alliances with several renowned international institutions specializing in hepatobiliary surgery and transplant medicine.
The partnerships aim to equip MNH with the clinical expertise and technical support required for successful liver transplantation.
"This week, we conducted a joint clinical assessment with hepatology and transplant experts from Fortis Hospital in India. Over three days, they collaborated with our multidisciplinary team, evaluating more than 100 patients with complex liver pathologies. The assessment also included an extensive review of our pharmacological inventory, laboratory diagnostics, and intensive care unit (ICU) infrastructure to confirm readiness for liver transplant operations," Prof. Janabi noted.
Dr. Gaurav Gupta, a hepatobiliary and liver transplant surgeon from Fortis Hospital, and Ms. Jennifer Choudhary, Business Director at Vaidam Health, reaffirmed their commitment to MNH, emphasizing the importance of building local capacity and knowledge transfer to ensure a sustainable liver transplant program.
Dr. Kitembo Salumu, MNH’s consultant surgeon specializing in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery and advanced laparoscopic techniques, highlighted the critical need for liver transplantation in Tanzania.
MNH data reveal that over 5,000 patients present with serious liver diseases, including approximately 2,333 individuals with hepatic tumors and 607 diagnosed with primary liver malignancies, primarily hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Additionally, a significant number of patients are experiencing end-stage liver disease secondary to conditions like cirrhosis, underscoring the demand for liver transplantation as a life-saving intervention.
The establishment of liver transplant services at MNH will mark a pivotal advancement in Tanzania’s healthcare system.
By 2025, Tanzanian patients with end-stage liver disease and hepatic malignancies may finally have access to curative and palliative transplant options within their own country, setting a new standard in specialized care and enhancing MNH's role as a premier center for high-complexity procedures in East Africa.
