HEALTH minister Jenista Mhagama yesterday inaugurated the new cardiac clinic in Dar es Salaam, emphasising the government’s ongoing efforts to expand and improve specialised heart care services in the country.

The facility has been established by   Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI).

Speaking at the event, minister Mhagama praised the establishment of new JKCI clinics, which now include three locations, the main JKCI headquarters in Upanga, along with the newly launched branches in Oyster Bay and Kawe.

She noted that the expansion of these facilities helps to reduce government costs by providing local heart treatment, thereby eliminating the need for patients to travel abroad for specialised care.

 “This growth in the number of JKCI clinics directly supports the government’s broader healthcare goals. By training local healthcare professionals and investing over 30bn/-, we are ensuring that specialised care is accessible within the country, which saves significant resources,” Mhagama said.

She emphasised the importance of addressing heart disease, referencing the World Health Organisation's 2019 report, which stated that heart-related diseases are responsible for 17 million deaths annually, accounting for 32 per cent of global mortality.

 “The existence of JKCI has made a significant impact in reducing heart-related deaths in our country,” Mhagama said.

She added: “To continue building on this success, we need to increase awareness locally and internationally, promote our services, and collaborate with embassies. These efforts will also boost medical tourism.”

Dr Peter Kisenge, Executive Director of JKCI, said the institute has spent over 2bn/- to establish and enhance infrastructure for the two new clinics, including JKCI-Oyster Bay.

He mentioned that JKCI now operates four service centres in Dar es Salaam—Upanga, Kawe, Oyster Bay, and Dar Group—with mobile health services extending to other regions of Tanzania.
 “When we first began heart treatments, JKCI performed 365 surgeries annually. Today, we perform over 3,000 surgeries a year, including complex open-heart procedures,” Dr Kisenge said.

He added: “With an investment of over 2.2bn/-, we have expanded our services at both the Kawe and Oyster Bay clinics, offering not only heart care but also nutritional counselling to improve overall health.”

Dr Kisenge also announced that the Oyster Bay branch will offer online consultations, increasing accessibility for patients across Tanzania who may not be able to visit in person.
 “We continue to expand our impact, not just within Tanzania but across Africa. To date, we have trained heart disease specialists in approximately 20 countries,” he said.

He also noted the increase in JKCI’s bed capacity from 156 to approximately 280, addressing the growing demand for specialised heart care.

Additionally, JKCI has introduced a nutrition laboratory focused on diagnosing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The institute has further expansion plans and aims to achieve a national presence in the coming years.

 “JKCI is committed to providing excellent heart disease care and will continue working to improve its services and reach more Tanzanians,” Dr Kisenge said.