Dar es Salaam. The government has revealed that the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) has saved more than Sh172 billion that would have otherwise been spent on sending heart patients abroad for treatment.
Speaking during the institute’s 10th anniversary celebrations in Dar es Salaam, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa noted that the establishment of JKCI in 2015 significantly reduced the country’s medical expenditure overseas.
“The Sixth-Phase Government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan has continued to invest in modern medical equipment, enabling the institute to keep pace with evolving technologies,” Mr Majaliwa, said in a speech read on his behalf by Ubungo District Commissioner Albert Msando.
JKCI executive director, Dr Peter Kisenge, said the facility has steadily built its reputation as a centre of excellence in cardiac care, serving both local and international patients.
He explained that the institute has become a regional referral hospital in Africa, attracting patients from across the continent and beyond.
According to him, this development underscores the institute’s growing role in strengthening specialised healthcare and saving costs for both Tanzania and neighbouring nations.
During the event, NMB Bank was recognised and presented with a special award for its contribution to supporting the institute’s efforts.
In 2024, the bank signed a four-year partnership agreement worth Sh1 billion with JKCI to cover treatment costs for children receiving cardiac services at the facility — equivalent to Sh250 million annually.
NMB Bank said it remains committed to its role in promoting social and health development, working with key partners to improve the wellbeing of Tanzanians through investments in the health sector.
