DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has urged major hospitals in the country to develop robust strategies to attain International Standard Health Accreditations to earn a reputation for attracting more visitors for medical tourism
Medical Tourism Coordinator in the Ministry of Health, Dr Asha Mahita said once the hospitals acquire the accreditation, they would instill trust among visitors on reliable and high-quality health care services.
Dr Mahita made the call during the ‘Strategy on Certification and Accreditation to Unlock Tanzania’s Medical Tourism Potential meeting in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.
Dr Mahita emphasised that medical tourism is a growing trend worldwide, adding that the government is committed to enhancing healthcare infrastructure and services to promote medical tourism and boost foreign exchange earnings.
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“We are discussing medical tourism and quality healthcare today because we want Tanzanians and foreigners to receive topnotch services that meet internationally recognised standards,” she stated.
She added that to achieve the goal, the government plans to begin with few hospitals before expanding accreditation to others.
While acknowledging the cost and requirements for the accreditation, Dr Mahita encouraged hospitals to implement additional strategies to meet international standards, particularly in areas such as customer care, efficiency, record-keeping, and timely information provision.
“So far, many hospitals in Tanzania already hold international accreditations for specific units like laboratories and radiation, but the push now is to secure accreditation for the entire respective hospital, resulting in an internationally recognised certificate,” she stressed.
Furthermore, she said that to begin with, the government has already identified six hospitals in the country as part of a pilot programme and helped them to set strategies for attracting a large number of patients from abroad.
She said the hospitals that are part of a pilot programme, include Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), and Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), for government hospitals, alongside Aga Khan Hospital and Saifee Hospital for private hospitals.
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According to her, in recent years the hospitals have seen a steady increase in the number of international patients seeking specialised healthcare services in Tanzania.
Dr Mahita said in 2022 the hospital received a total of 5,705 patients from abroad while in 2023, they received 6,931 patients
From January to May, they have already received approximately 3,600 patients. In line with that, she said the government plans to take advantage of the AFCON 2027 championship hosted in the country by showcasing the excellence of local hospital services to the global audience.
Dr Heri Marwa, Country Director of PharmAccess, echoed the statement, stating that the primary goal of the meeting was to examine how Tanzania might effectively implement medical tourism.
He stated that while the process began in 2021, it has gained fresh impetus after getting an opportunity to host AFCON 2027, insisting that it is critical that those who plan to participate in the tournament have assurances regarding their medical care.
“To attract more visitors to Tanzania, it is necessary to ensure that hospitals provide health services that meet international standards,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of effectively implementing medical tourism in Tanzania by providing high-quality services and ensuring visitors’ confidence in the healthcare system. He said efforts that are going to ensure the country effectively implements medical tourism include using digital platforms to raise awareness and simplify access to medical services.
For his part, Vice-Chairman of the National Medical Tourism Committee, Mr Abdulmalik Mollel, emphasised the significance of international health standard certification for hospitals to attract international patients and elevate Tanzania’s status in the global healthcare arena.
He also highlighted the importance of incorporating advanced medical technologies to improve service delivery and efficiency in healthcare settings.
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