By Charles Mkoka
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Medinova Specialized Polyclinic, a healthcare facility owned by Qatar-based 33 Holding, has launched a new physiotherapy department as part of its expansion of specialist healthcare services in Tanzania.
The hospital said the new unit is intended to improve access to rehabilitation services for patients recovering from illness, injury and other conditions that affect mobility and physical function.
Medical Director Dr. Imran Asif Bwaja said the hospital, established nearly three years ago, is entering a new phase of growth that includes expanding specialist services, operating theatres and future intensive care and emergency facilities.
He credited Tanzania's investment climate under the government for supporting private-sector participation in healthcare and thanked regional and district authorities in Dar es Salaam for their continued support.
Internal medicine specialist Dr. Selestine Mpiri said physiotherapy is an evidence-based rehabilitation service that restores movement and physical function through prescribed exercises and clinical techniques rather than medication.
She said many people mistakenly associate physiotherapy with massage, noting that while massage may provide temporary relief, physiotherapy focuses on identifying the underlying cause of a condition and delivering long-term treatment through therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and electrotherapy.
"Physiotherapy is not only for patients recovering from surgery or road traffic accidents," Mpiri said. "It also benefits people with neurological disorders, respiratory illnesses, dizziness and pelvic floor dysfunction, among many other conditions."
She cautioned against copying rehabilitation exercises from social media or the internet without professional assessment, saying treatment plans should be tailored to each patient's age, medical condition and individual needs.
Medinova physiotherapist Witney Lema said the department provides non-invasive rehabilitation without oral medication or injections and treats a broad range of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, including back, neck and knee pain, fractures, sports injuries and stroke rehabilitation.
Lema said global demand for physiotherapy services continues to rise as populations age and chronic diseases increasingly affect people's ability to carry out daily activities.
"Our goal is to help patients regain independence, improve mobility and enhance their quality of life through personalized rehabilitation programmes," Lema said.
In addition to physiotherapy, Medinova offers specialist services in internal medicine, paediatrics, women's health, dermatology, aesthetic medicine, dentistry and laboratory diagnostics.
Hospital management said it plans to further expand its infrastructure by increasing inpatient capacity and introducing emergency and intensive care services, while maintaining affordable treatment costs to make specialist healthcare accessible to more Tanzanians.
