By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania’s push to expand specialised heart care – and strengthen its long-term medical tourism ambitions – gained fresh momentum on April 23, 2026, as Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) and Halotel Tanzania formalised a nationwide fundraising partnership in Dar es Salaam.
The agreement, signed at Halotel’s headquarters by KCMC Executive Director Prof. Gilead Masenga and HaloPesa Deputy CEO Magesa Wandwi, launched a three-month campaign to raise the final TSh 3 billion needed to complete KCMC’s modern cardiac centre in Moshi.
Framed as both a public health imperative and a strategic national investment, the initiative calls on Tanzanians – locally and in the diaspora – to support a facility expected to transform access to cardiovascular care while positioning the country as a regional hub for specialised treatment and medical tourism.
“This centre is critical in strengthening our capacity to treat heart diseases locally and save lives,” Prof. Masenga said.
Digital finance meets healthcare delivery
Under the partnership, HaloPesa will serve as the campaign’s digital engine, enabling contributions through a dedicated payment channel. Donations will be collected via Lipa Number 23758475 (KCMC MOYO), with Halotel waiving transaction fees for its customers to remove cost barriers and drive wider participation.
Mr Wandwi said the telecom firm was motivated by the rising burden of heart disease and the need to expand access to affordable, high-quality care.
“Through HaloPesa, we have created a simple, secure and inclusive platform that allows every Tanzanian to participate in this life-saving effort,” he said.
The model highlights the growing role of fintech in mobilising domestic resources for priority sectors, particularly in capital-intensive areas like healthcare.
Responding to rising cardiac disease
KCMC officials underscored the urgency of the project amid a sharp increase in non-communicable diseases, with cardiovascular conditions now among the leading causes of death.
Prof. Masenga said cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death in Tanzania with eight out of 10 patients admitted at KCMC suffering from non-communicable diseases, which account for approximately 70 percent of global mortality
Currently, advanced cardiac care in Tanzania remains heavily concentrated at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Dar es Salaam – leaving many patients to contend with long-distance travel, treatment delays, and significant out-of-pocket costs.
The new facility at KCMC is set to rebalance this landscape. By complementing existing national capacity, it will expand access to timely diagnosis, specialised surgery, and long-term cardiac care – particularly for underserved populations in northern and central regions.
Beyond easing pressure on existing facilities, the centre is expected to decentralise services, shorten treatment timelines, and ultimately improve survival outcomes for heart patients across the country.
Beyond healthcare: A strategic national asset
Beyond its clinical role, the cardiac centre is being positioned as a strategic investment aligned with Tanzania’s long-term development vision, including Dira 2050.
Officials say the facility will help reduce outbound medical travel, save foreign exchange, and build local expertise – while enhancing Tanzania’s competitiveness as a destination for specialised care and medical tourism in East and Central Africa.
It also marks a step toward decentralising advanced healthcare services, which remain heavily concentrated in Dar es Salaam.
Multi-sector momentum builds
The Halotel partnership is part of a broader mobilisation effort bringing together healthcare providers, financial institutions and philanthropic organisations.
On the same day, KCMC – alongside Tanlink Health Care Foundation led by Dr. Siraj Mtulia – held discussions with Bank of Africa Tanzania, represented by Acting Managing Director Wasia Mushi, to explore additional financing and partnership options.
The engagement reflects a growing shift toward shared responsibility in funding major social infrastructure.
Final stretch toward completion
With most project financing already secured – supported in part by international partners including the United States – the current campaign targets the final funding gap needed to complete construction and operationalise the facility.
“This is a collective journey,” Prof. Masenga said. “By investing in this centre, we are investing in the health, productivity and future of our nation.”
Background
KCMC launched the national fundraising campaign on April 9, 2026, as part of While most construction funding has been secured, approximately TSh 3 billion remains outstanding.
The project, estimated to cost about TSh 50 billion, covers both construction and the installation of advanced medical equipment. By April 2026, construction had reached roughly 40 per cent completion, with more than 90 percent of the required construction funds already secured
Once completed, the facility is expected to significantly improve access to specialised heart care, strengthen training and research capacity, and reduce reliance on treatment abroad.
Outlook
When fully operational, the centre is expected to deliver advanced, affordable cardiac care to Tanzanians and patients from neighbouring countries – strengthening the country’s strategic position in the regional healthcare landscape and advancing its ambition to become a competitive hub for medical tourism in the world. More broadly, the initiative is emerging as a test case for how Tanzania can combine public participation, private-sector innovation and institutional leadership to finance and deliver large-scale health infrastructure.
