Tanzania has stepped up efforts to cut reliance on foreign hospitals by expanding specialised treatment locally, with the opening of a Kidney Transplant Centre and the launch of construction for a Cancer Training and Treatment Centre at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma.
Vice President Dr Philip Mpango, who officiated at the ceremony yesterday, said the facilities are expected to ease the financial and emotional burden on families forced to seek care abroad, while positioning the country as a medical destination within East Africa.
“Until now, many Tanzanians have had to spend significant amounts of money travelling overseas for advanced treatment. These new centres will not only reduce that burden but also attract patients from neighbouring countries,” Dr Mpango said.
Medical tourism already contributes an estimated Sh166.5 billion to the economy, with the number of foreign patients treated in Tanzania rising from 5,700 in 2021 to 12,180 in 2025. Government officials believe the expansion of services in Dodoma could accelerate this trend, strengthening the city’s role as a medical hub.
The Vice President urged the hospital, in collaboration with the private sector and the Dodoma City Council, to provide accommodation and related services for patients and their families, especially those travelling from across the region.
He also emphasised prevention, urging schools, universities, religious institutions, and NGOs to take a stronger role in health education to reduce the prevalence of diseases that require expensive treatment. He said digital tools and social media should be used more effectively in these campaigns.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Seif Shekalaghe, said reforms under the Sixth-Phase Government have improved access to specialised care, with Benjamin Mkapa Hospital increasingly serving patients from both Tanzania and neighbouring countries.
Hospital Executive Director Dr Alphonce Chandika highlighted achievements in the facility’s first decade, including advanced services in nephrology, cardiology, neurosurgery, joint replacement, neonatal care, and a daily production of 400 oxygen cylinders.
He added that the hospital has strengthened its outreach and research partnerships with universities and medical institutions.
Looking ahead, Benjamin Mkapa Hospital will host the East African Community Centre of Excellence for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Hematology in partnership with the University of Dodoma.
The project, once completed, is expected to offer highly specialised services that are not currently available in the region.
Health experts say these investments could mark a turning point for Tanzania, enabling more citizens to access life-saving treatment within the country while reducing dependence on foreign medical systems.
