By A Special Correspondent
Tanzania’s ambitions to become a regional hub for specialised healthcare have received a boost from a Congolese family that has praised the quality of cancer treatment services at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Dar es Salaam.
Patrick Yuma, a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said his mother, who travelled from Kinshasa for cancer treatment, has been responding positively to care at the institute since arriving in early August.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam, Yuma expressed satisfaction with the medical services, professionalism and reception his family had received at ORCI.
He explained that his mother was initially examined at CMCK Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi, where doctors recommended specialised cancer treatment, particularly radiotherapy, which prompted the family to seek services outside the country.
With Zambia and Tanzania among the treatment options available, the family chose ORCI following medical advice received in Bujumbura.
“We arrived here at the beginning of August, and my mother is progressing well with treatment. She is expected to complete her treatment in the coming weeks, which has given us hope in her treatment journey,” Yuma said.
“The services are very good, and we have been received very well.”
Yuma said the experience had strengthened his family’s confidence in Tanzania’s healthcare services and demonstrated the importance of seeking specialised medical attention promptly.
He urged families caring for cancer patients not to delay seeking professional treatment, stressing that early diagnosis and appropriate care can significantly improve treatment outcomes.
“People should not keep patients at home. They should take them to hospital for treatment,” he said.
He added that witnessing other patients receiving specialised care at ORCI had encouraged his family throughout his mother’s treatment.
Growing regional demand
ORCI’s Head of the Clinical Unit for Insurance, Special and Foreign Patients, Dr. Caroline Swai, said the institute continues to attract patients from several countries seeking cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.
She identified Zambia, Comoros, the DRC, Burundi, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa among the African countries from which patients have travelled to the institute.
ORCI has also received patients from countries and territories outside Africa, including Thailand and American Samoa, she said.
“Receiving patients from outside Tanzania shows that ORCI continues to be among the institutions providing specialised cancer services to patients from both within and outside the country,” Dr. Swai said.
The growing international patient base underscores the importance of specialised healthcare facilities in meeting demand for cancer treatment across the region.
For patients requiring radiotherapy and other specialised interventions, access to appropriate facilities can influence treatment decisions, particularly where such services are limited or difficult to obtain in their home countries.
Healthcare beyond borders
The experiences shared by international patients also highlight opportunities for Tanzania’s healthcare sector to strengthen its regional reach.
Cross-border demand for specialised treatment has implications beyond hospitals, potentially supporting medical transport, accommodation, diagnostic services and other businesses catering to patients and accompanying family members.
However, translating this demand into a sustainable medical tourism industry will require continued investment in modern equipment, skilled healthcare professionals, reliable treatment services and efficient patient referral systems.
For ORCI, which provides cancer screening and treatment services to Tanzanians and international patients, regional referrals represent an opportunity to expand access to specialised care while strengthening Tanzania’s position in the wider African healthcare landscape.
For Yuma and his family, the immediate priority remains his mother’s recovery. Her progress, he said, has reinforced their belief in the importance of timely treatment and the quality of specialised cancer care available in Tanzania.
