The government has intensified efforts to expand organ transplant services and strengthen universal health insurance, citing the high cost of dialysis treatment as a major burden facing kidney patients across the country.
Speaking in Dodoma during the launch of the First International Scientific Conference on Organ Transplant Services, Chief Government Medical Officer Dr. Grace Magembe said many kidney patients are required to undergo dialysis three times a week.
Each session costs between TZS 150,000 and TZS 280,000 and takes about four hours, making long-term treatment financially challenging for most families.
Dr. Magembe said the situation highlights the urgent need to expand access to transplant services and increase health insurance coverage nationwide.
“For patients whose kidneys can be transplanted, we encourage them to undergo transplant procedures so they can avoid the ongoing burden of dialysis,” she said, adding that universal health insurance is expected to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and improve access to life-saving care.
She noted that Tanzania has made notable progress in specialized and super-specialized medical services, especially in organ transplantation.
The country is already conducting kidney transplants as well as bone marrow transplants for cancer and blood disorder patients, while preparations are underway to introduce liver and heart transplant services.
Dr. Magembe said since the introduction of transplant services in 2017 at Muhimbili National Hospital and later in 2018 at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, more than 147 patients have successfully received organ transplants locally.
She said these achievements reflect significant investment in the health sector under the Sixth Phase Government led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, particularly in expanding access to advanced medical care within the country.
“These services are expensive and not easily affordable, which is why the government has introduced universal health insurance to ensure all citizens can access them regardless of their financial status,” Dr. Magembe said.
She further urged Tanzanians to enroll in health insurance schemes, noting that expanded coverage will ensure more patients benefit from the growing range of specialized services available in the country.
The Director General of Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, Prof. Abel Makubi, said the conference has brought together more than 150 experts from Tanzania, other African countries, and Europe to share knowledge and strengthen organ transplant systems.
He said the focus is to expand services such as liver and heart transplants while improving existing kidney and bone marrow transplant programs.
“This is also an opportunity to showcase government investment in healthcare. Today, more than 98 percent of these services are available locally, reducing the need for patients to seek treatment abroad,” he said.
Prof. Makubi added that international collaboration remains critical in strengthening training, medical research, equipment supply, and pharmaceutical support to improve service delivery in the country.
He said Tanzania is steadily positioning itself as a regional hub for advanced medical care, with increasing capacity to handle complex procedures that previously required overseas referrals.
The conference also highlighted patient experiences as a reflection of progress in the sector.
A parent, Shani Mgaraganza, shared her experience after her child underwent a bone marrow transplant in Tanzania.
She said the child previously suffered frequent hospital admissions and missed school but is now healthy and recovering well, expressing gratitude for the government’s investment in local specialized care.
Another beneficiary, Richard Masimba, said he developed kidney complications in 2022 and underwent dialysis for three years before successfully receiving a kidney transplant on December 12, 2025, at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital.
“I received a kidney donation from my son, and the transplant was successful. I am now doing well and grateful to the government for bringing these life-changing services closer to us,” he said.
The conference is expected to strengthen collaboration among medical experts and further improve organ transplant services, with the long-term goal of making Tanzania a leading center for specialized healthcare in Africa.
