DAR ES SALAAM: THE Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) has received international recognition after winning a prestigious Global Leadership and Excellence Award, strengthening Tanzania’s position as an emerging destination for specialised healthcare and boosting efforts to promote medical tourism.
The award, which recognises JKCI’s excellence in cardiac care, medical training and research, is expected to increase confidence among international patients seeking advanced and affordable heart treatment in Tanzania.
Speaking to Sunday News ahead of the award presentation yesterday, JKCI Executive Director, Dr Peter Kisenge, said the recognition reflects the institute’s remarkable progress in transforming cardiovascular services and placing Tanzania on the global healthcare map.
He said JKCI was selected following a rigorous assessment process that evaluated leading healthcare institutions and professionals from different parts of the world based on service delivery, innovation, leadership and social impact.
“JKCI was selected because of its remarkable achievements in providing advanced cardiac care, training healthcare professionals and conducting research,” Dr Kisenge said.
He said the institute’s ability to provide complex heart procedures that were previously unavailable in Tanzania, reduce overseas medical referrals, strengthen local specialists’ capacity and serve patients from across Africa contributed to its recognition.
“This recognition confirms that the government’s investment in improving healthcare services is producing internationally recognised results. It raises Tanzania’s profile as a centre of excellence for specialised healthcare in Africa and motivates us to continue delivering worldclass services,” Dr Kisenge said.
He added that the award would support Tanzania’s medical tourism ambitions by enhancing the country’s reputation among patients from neighbouring countries and beyond.
“As more of our health institutions gain global recognition, more patients from other countries will choose Tanzania for treatment. This will benefit the health sector, tourism industry and the national economy through increased foreign exchange earnings while positioning Tanzania as a leading centre for specialised healthcare in East and Central Africa,” he said.
JKCI’s long-term vision is to become an internationally accredited centre for cardiovascular care, training and research, a goal that Dr Kisenge said is becoming increasingly achievable as the institute continues to gain recognition locally and internationally.
Established in 2015 as Tanzania’s national referral centre for heart diseases, JKCI has developed into one of East and Central Africa’s leading cardiac facilities, offering specialised treatment, training and research services.
The 365-bed facility currently treats more than 2,000 outpatients and over 100 inpatients every week, serving patients from Tanzania and neighbouring countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Comoros.
Over the past decade, the institute has introduced advanced cardiac procedures that previously forced Tanzanian patients to seek treatment abroad.
Among the procedures now available at JKCI are open-heart surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve replacement, correction of congenital heart defects and minimally invasive interventions such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).
The expansion of these specialised services has significantly reduced dependence on overseas treatment. JKCI estimates that it has saved the government more than 95bn/- (over 35 million US dollars) in foreign treatment costs by enabling patients to access complex cardiac care locally.
Dr Kisenge attributed the institute’s achievements to continued government support through investment in modern infrastructure, advanced medical equipment and specialist training.
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Under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, he said, the government has prioritised improving healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to specialised medical services across the country.
Dr Kisenge said the latest global recognition serves as motivation for JKCI to continue improving services and pursuing international accreditation.
He said the institute remains committed to ensuring Tanzanians and patients from other countries access highquality cardiac care without the need to travel overseas.