By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania is steadily cementing its position as a leading destination for medical tourism in East and Central Africa, as neighbouring countries increasingly turn to its advanced health facilities for affordable, high-quality specialised care.
This momentum was underscored last week during a visit by Malawi’s Minister for Health, Madalitso Baloyi, to Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH) in Dodoma, where she revealed that about 1,900 Malawians are currently awaiting referral for specialised medical treatment abroad – a situation that has placed significant financial pressure on both the Malawian government and affected families.
Speaking during the visit, Ms. Baloyi said Malawi is actively exploring a strategic partnership with Tanzania that would enable Malawian patients to access specialised care closer to home, rather than travelling to distant and costly destinations such as India.
She noted that discussions focus on patient referrals to Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, alongside capacity-building initiatives, including training of Malawian health professionals, joint medical research, and structured knowledge-sharing programmes.
The development comes as Tanzania continues to invest heavily in world-class healthcare infrastructure, notably at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) and its state-of-the-art Mloganzila facility, which have become reference centres for complex procedures such as organ transplants, advanced cardiac care, oncology, and neurosurgery.
Recently, MNH further strengthened its medical tourism offering with the launch of a Premier Clinic, designed to provide specialised and personalised services to local and international patients within a world-class clinical environment.
Commenting on Tanzania’s growing regional role, Dr. Delilah Kimambo (pictured abive), Executive Director of Muhimbili National Hospital, said the country’s public health institutions are now fully positioned to serve both domestic and international patients.
“Our continued investments in specialised equipment, highly trained specialists, and premium service delivery are enabling Tanzania to compete with established global medical tourism destinations. Facilities such as MNH and Mloganzila are now centres of excellence for the region,” Dr. Kimambo said.
Senior officials at BMH echoed this position, noting that the hospital was established precisely to serve as a regional referral centre for specialised care.
“Benjamin Mkapa Hospital was designed to reduce outbound medical referrals and to serve patients from across East and Central Africa. Partnerships such as the one under discussion with Malawi align perfectly with this mission,” the Executive Director of BMH, Prof. Abel Makubi, said.
According to him, some 400 patients from various neighbouring countries have received medical treatment at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital from 2016 to date.
He noted that the visit by Malawi’s Minister of Health to Benjamin Mkapa Hospital builds on the achievements of a visit made by the hospital’s leadership to Malawi in December 2025, during which a strong foundation for cooperation was established.
Medical Tourism in Tanzania: Key Impact Metrics
| Category | Key Figures & Trends |
| International Patients (2021–2025) | 5,700 → Over 12,180 |
| Foreign Exchange Revenue (2024/2025) | TSh 166.5 billion (US$ 65–70m) |
| Projected Patients by 2030 | More than 30,000 annually |
| Specialist Workforce Growth | Significant increases in specialist postings regionally |
| MNH Upgrading Investment | TSh 1.3 trillion |
| Domestic Savings from Reduced Referrals Abroad | TSh 95 billion |
Key areas of collaboration were identified, including the provision of healthcare services, capacity building for health professionals, exchange of expertise and knowledge, and the promotion of medical tourism within the region.
The Minister for Health, Mohammed Mchengerwa, welcomed the proposed collaboration with Malawi, describing it as a mutually beneficial and sustainable model that leverages Tanzania’s expanding healthcare capacity while easing the medical and financial burden on neighboring countries. If finalised, the partnership is expected to significantly improve access to specialised healthcare for thousands of Malawians, while further reinforcing Tanzania’s standing as a regional pillar of medical tourism and specialised healthcare excellence.
