Tanzania mulls extending radiotherapy services to four more hospitals

Dodoma. The Tanzanian government is planning to add four more hospitals that will provide radiotherapy services to extend cancer treatment across the country.

Currently, only four centres provide cancer treatment through radiation, including the Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Bugando Regional Referral Hospital, Besta Private Hospital, and Good Samaritan Hospital (St Fransis Ifakara).

Minister for Health, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, revealed the plans in Parliament on Friday, April 5, 2024, as she responded to a question posed by Ms Tunza Issa Malapo (Special Seats) who wanted to know the status of radiotherapy services in Tanzania.

“The government is proceeding with investment procedures to add more centres (Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, KCMC Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital and Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital) for Mainland Tanzania and Binguni Hospital in Zanzibar,” she said, adding that the government will construct buildings and provide equipment that will be used to treat cancer patients through radiation therapy.

Her response was followed by a series of other supplementary questions in which the lawmakers urged the government to deepen cancer treatment services and campaigns to detect the disease at early stages.

“What is the plan for the government to extend radiotherapy services to Mtwara Zonal Referral Hospital and cover the southern zone,” Ms Malapo asked, demanding also to know the awareness plans for detecting cancer at early stages.

Ms Mwalimu responded that Tanzania gets about 40,000 new cancer patients every year but only about 30 percent of them go to hospitals.

She added that 70 percent of those who appear at hospitals do so late, which makes it difficult or takes longer to treat them.

Ms Mwalimu urged the MPs to also accelerate awareness campaigns to sensitise people about the importance of testing for cancer early.

She also urged district hospitals to dedicate a day every month for cancer screening in their respective areas.