The Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) has introduced a QR code-based appointment system that allows patients to book consultations, select doctors and make payments before arriving at the hospital in a move aimed at tackling congestion and long waiting times.
The system is designed to shift some of the processes traditionally handled at the hospital to patients’ homes, potentially reducing the hours spent in queues and waiting areas.
MOI Executive Director Ambassador Dr Mpoki Ulisubisya said on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, that patients could use the QR code to access information about the institute, available doctors and services before booking an appointment.
Speaking to journalists in Dodoma on MOI’s performance during the 2025/26 financial year and its priorities for 2026/27, Dr Ulisubisya said patients would be able to choose both the doctor they wanted to consult and the time they wished to visit the hospital.
After making an appointment, the system generates a control number that enables the patient to complete payment before travelling to the facility.
The patient then receives details of the doctor, clinic and appointment time, allowing them to arrive when the service is scheduled rather than spending much of the day at the hospital.
The initiative addresses a long-standing challenge at the specialist facility, where some patients previously arrived as early as 10pm and waited until about 2pm the following day to see a doctor.
Dr Ulisubisya said the new arrangement would give patients greater control over their hospital visits while enabling the institute to manage patient flows more efficiently.
The move comes as MOI continues to handle a substantial workload. In the 2025/26 financial year, the institute attended to 211,389 patients, including about 202,000 outpatients and nearly 10,000 inpatients.
Beyond digital services, MOI has continued expanding specialised treatment in orthopaedics and neurology, with the institute reporting that it can now meet about 98 per cent of the needs of patients requiring treatment for bones, muscles and injuries.
It also meets about 97 per cent of the needs of patients with neurological conditions, according to Dr Ulisubisya.
The institute has expanded stroke treatment using Biplane Angiography, while also providing hip and knee replacement, minimally invasive knee surgery and chronic pain management.
Its radiology department conducted about 84,000 examinations during the year, while the physiotherapy unit treated approximately 72,000 patients.
For patients, however, the success of the QR system will ultimately depend on whether it translates into shorter queues and more predictable access to specialist care.
MOI’s digital shift therefore represents not only a technological upgrade, but also an attempt to address one of the most persistent frustrations in public healthcare—time lost waiting for services.