JKCI proves its worth, asks the government for assistance

Dar es Salaam. Number of patients who are referred abroad for heart related treatments has been reduced by 95 percent thanks to work done by the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI).

According to the JKCI Executive Director, Prof Mohammed Janabi the number has decreased from 198 patients in 2013 to only four last year.

In the past, government used to budget for about Sh30 million for every patient sent abroad for treatment. Similar patient is now treated at JKCI at an average of Sh1 million.

Prof Janabi was speaking during the inauguration of the JKCI Board of Trustees today.

After outlining what JKCI has done, Prof Janadi pleaded with the government to allocate the money used to take the patient abroad to the Institute to enable it cover some of the costs including exemptions to patients who fail to pay bills.

He said in the last one year Sh150 million was used to pay bills of people who could not do so.