Tanzania’s Embassy in the Netherlands is helping Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH) expand its international partnerships as the country seeks to strengthen specialised healthcare, medical training and research.
The Embassy recently facilitated a visit by a BMH delegation led by the hospital’s Executive Director, Prof Abel Makubi, to explore long-term cooperation with health and academic institutions in the Netherlands and beyond.
The engagements focused on specialised medical services, training of health professionals, research, knowledge exchange, technology and innovation, with the aim of improving access to advanced healthcare services in Tanzania.
One of the key outcomes was an agreement between BMH and Radboud University Medical Center (Radboud UMC) to establish cooperation aimed at building the capacity of Tanzanian health professionals in various specialised medical fields.
The visit also paved the way for a broader partnership in cardiac care.
Through the Netherlands-based ZGT Overseas Foundation, BMH reached an understanding with Amphia Hospital in Breda, Netherlands, and Schüchtermann-Klinik – Heart Center in Bad Rothenfelde, Germany, to develop a five-year programme to strengthen specialised cardiac services at BMH.
The programme will provide opportunities for advanced professional training, exchange of expertise and exposure to modern approaches to specialised cardiac care.
For Tanzania, the partnership is expected to contribute to strengthening local capacity and improving the availability of specialised heart services, while supporting efforts to retain patients who might otherwise seek treatment abroad.
BMH also plans to deepen collaboration with leading Tanzanian health institutions, including the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) and Aga Khan Hospital.
The move is intended to promote knowledge sharing and make greater use of expertise available within the country, while complementing local capacity with international experience and technology.
Prof Makubi said international partnerships were a priority for BMH as it seeks to develop into a leading centre for specialised healthcare in East Africa.
The initiative also underscores the growing role of health diplomacy in linking Tanzanian institutions with global partners to facilitate skills transfer, research, innovation and investment in healthcare.
For the Embassy, the engagements demonstrate how diplomatic missions can play a practical role in opening opportunities for Tanzanian institutions beyond traditional diplomatic and political relations.