Public investment in specialized healthcare is transforming Tanzania into an emerging regional medical tourism hub, according to a new study. The study, authored by Dr. Ladislaus Batinoluho of the Open University of Tanzania, found that expanding cardiology, oncology, and organ transplant services has reduced the need for Tanzanians to seek treatment abroad while attracting patients from across Sub-Saharan Africa. This growth has, in turn, supported local businesses such as hospitality, housing, and transport.
The study, published in the East African Journal of Management and Business Studies, used a qualitative case-study approach involving 35 stakeholders, including international medical tourists, healthcare providers, and hospital administrators. The research shows that international patient arrivals more than doubled, from 5,705 in 2021 to 12,180 in 2025. Tanzania now accounts for an estimated 15 to 20 percent of East Africa's medical tourism market, generating about Sh166.5 billion ($70 million) in direct economic contributions.
Patients often travel with relatives, who stay in hotels or rented apartments, use local transport, and buy food and other services, sometimes remaining in the country for weeks. Investment in referral facilities, including the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) and Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH), has helped retain patients who previously traveled abroad for specialized care. An estimated 200 to 300 Tanzanians historically sought treatment overseas each year, but local availability of open-heart surgery, cancer treatment, and kidney transplants is reducing that outflow.
A medical specialist in Arusha told the study that serving international patients had encouraged staff to improve their skills and undertake continuous training, as expectations were higher and services were compared with international standards. The specialist noted that there is no "business as usual" anymore at this medical facility. Regional demand for medical tourism in Tanzania is high, with Zambians accounting for more than 20 percent of inbound medical travelers in 2023.
Patients also come from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, and Malawi, often seeking cardiac and cancer services that are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive in their home countries. Zambian patients cited lower costs and shorter waiting times as reasons for choosing Tanzania. The study identifies opportunities to link healthcare with leisure tourism, with some patients combining procedures with recuperative stays at resort destinations.
Dr. Caroline Swai, a clinical oncologist and medical tourism coordinator at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), suggests that medical tourism should be integrated with leisure tourism to attract more visitors. She recommends providing foreign patients with brochures highlighting tourist attractions such as Ngorongoro and Ruaha, which they could visit after completing treatment or during different stages of recovery. However, the study points to constraints, including a shortage of suitable accommodation for patients requiring extended recovery.
The study recommends a dedicated medical tourism policy, simpler cross-border regulatory procedures, and support for leading referral hospitals to secure international accreditation. Dr. Mugisha Nkoronko, a specialist surgeon at BMH, emphasizes the need for modernizing medical training curricula, investing in international accreditation, and promoting a service-oriented mindset among healthcare professionals. He also calls for collaboration between providers and private stakeholders to establish affordable accommodation near major hospitals.
Key points
- Tanzania's medical tourism sector is growing rapidly, with international patient arrivals more than doubling between 2021 and 2025.
- The country accounts for an estimated 15 to 20 percent of East Africa's medical tourism market, generating about Sh166.5 billion ($70 million) in direct economic contributions.
- To sustain growth, Tanzania needs to invest in post-treatment accommodation and internationally recognized quality accreditation.
