By Jeremiah Mbwambo, Dodoma
Tanzania has convened its first-ever national conference on organ transplantation, bringing together leading specialists from across the country and abroad in a landmark step toward strengthening advanced medical care.
The conference, hosted in Dodoma today by Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH), marks a historic moment for the country’s health sector as it seeks to build capacity in complex procedures such as kidney and bone marrow transplants – areas that have traditionally required patients to travel overseas.
Briefing journalists ahead of the landmark gathering, Benjamin Mkapa Hospital Executive Director, Prof Abel Makubi, described the conference as a pivotal, nation-setting platform that will shape the policy, clinical, and investment trajectory of transplant medicine in Tanzania, bringing together global expertise to accelerate the country’s transition into a regional hub for advanced care.
“This is the first time Tanzania is bringing together such a wide range of expertise focused specifically on organ transplantation,” Prof Makubi said. “It reflects how far we have come and our commitment to building sustainable, high-quality transplant services locally.”
The conference has drawn participants from countries including Italy, India, Japan, South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, and Singapore, alongside key local institutions such as the Ministry of Health, Muhimbili National Hospital, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), Bugando Medical Centre, and universities including Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and the University of Dodoma (UDOM).
For stakeholders, the significance of the gathering lies not only in its scale but in its timing. Tanzania has in recent years begun performing organ transplants domestically, and the conference is expected to consolidate these gains by aligning policy, clinical practice, and investment priorities.
“We are moving from isolated efforts to a coordinated national approach,” Prof Makubi said. “Through this conference, we aim to develop clear strategies, strengthen collaboration, and ensure that transplant services become more accessible and sustainable.”
The event is part of BMH’s 10th anniversary celebrations, highlighting the hospital’s evolution since its establishment in 2015 into a key player in specialised healthcare. Over that period, the hospital has introduced high-end procedures that are gradually reducing the need for outbound medical travel.
Health experts say convening a national forum dedicated to organ transplantation signals a maturing healthcare system – one that is beginning to address not just service delivery, but also the regulatory, ethical, and infrastructural frameworks required for such complex treatments.
Resolutions from the conference are expected to inform future policy direction, including strengthening legal frameworks, improving donor systems, and enhancing training and technology adoption.
Beyond domestic impact, the conference also positions Tanzania within a growing regional conversation on specialised healthcare.
By building local expertise and fostering international partnerships, the country is laying the groundwork to eventually attract patients from across East and Central Africa. As the discussions unfold in Dodoma, the inaugural conference stands as a defining milestone – one that underscores Tanzania’s ambition to transition from reliance on external care to becoming a credible provider of advanced medical services on the continent.
