Tanzania: IFC Brings Landmark Health Investments to Dar

TANZANIA is set to benefit from a landmark health care investment project planned by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and development partners.

The project will boost access to quality health care services to help improve lives and achieve

universal health coverage across in Tanzania, as part of the project.

A communiqué made available to the 'Daily News' shows that IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and IFHA-II Coöperatief U.A., a private equity fund focused on health care in Sub-Saharan Africa have launched a $115 million holding company to acquire and integrate targeted health care service businesses in East and Southern Africa.

IFC's Chief Operating Officer, Mr Stephanie von Friedeburg noted that IFC is investing $22 million in the Hospital Holdings Investment (HHI) holding company, an investment platform set up by IFHA-II.

Launching of the project was done in Cairo, Egypt on Saturday. AAR Healthcare businesses are among those targeted by the IFC in its five-year investment plan that will see it buy significant stakes in health facilities in Tanzania in a project that will also be extended to neighboring Kenya and Southern Africa.

Mr Von Friedeburg noted that the project is also supported by the European development finance organisations Swedfund, Proparco, Finnfund and IFU, Danish Investment Fund for Developing countries.

HHI will be IFC's largest equity investment in health care in Sub-Saharan Africa, outside of South Africa. IFC also mobilised $43.2 million from other investors.

Chairman of the Board of HHI and Managing Partner at IFHA II, Mr Max Coppoolse was quoted as saying that they were seeking to fill a critical gap in the health care sector by providing secondary and out-of-hospital care for middle to lower middle income patients in East and Southern Africa "HHI is filling a critical gap in the health care sector by providing secondary and out-of-hospital care for middle to lower middle income patients in East and Southern Africa.

We aim to offer accessible, affordable and quality health care by increasing the number of hospitals and clinics we operate," said Coppoolse.

HHI is expected to grow services in East and Southern Africa from one hospital and 35 clinics to five hospitals and 52 clinics, serving up to 1.8 million patients annually over the next five years.

That will be achieved both by building new facilities and acquiring existing health care assets.

"Access to quality and affordable healthcare is essential for building the human capital that economies need to promote growth.

Private investment in the health sector in Africa- like the agreement we signed today with IFHA-II- is a key strategy for competitiveness and growth," Mr Von Friedeburg was quoted as saying during a signing event on the sidelines of the Investment for Africa Forum in Cairo.

IFC is the largest multilateral investor in health care in developing countries, with investments in over 200 projects in the past two decades totaling $4.3 billion.

It works with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, using their capital, expertise and influence to create markets and opportunities where they are needed most.

In fiscal year 2019, IFC delivered more than $19 billion in long-term financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.

IFHA-II are private equity funds dedicated to small to medium size investments in private healthcare companies in Africa.

It invests in private healthcare companies that operate in fast-growing markets and show unique advantages over the competition.

IFHA responds to the growing need for capital investments in private healthcare in Africa that are driven by the market growth and improved economic performance in Africa over the past number of years.