EIGHT doctors from the Democratic Republic of Congo are scheduled to visit the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) next week to learn how the institution has made progress in heart treatment and the investment made by the government in medical equipment and specialists.

Coordinator of the visit Abdulmalik Mollel said this in Dar es Salaam yesterday when speaking to journalists about the tour.

Mollel who coordinates the visit in collaboration with JKCI said that the doctors are from the Ngaliema Referral Hospital located in the capital city of Kinshasa.

He said the delegation of doctors will be led by Dr Kongo Minga, who is the Director of Ngaliema Referral Hospital, adding that the visit is expected to take place from Monday to Saturday.

"This is the first time for doctors from DRC to come to Tanzania with the mission of visiting our hospital and see the investment in the health sector, especially in heart treatment,” he said.

Mollel said the visit is expected to help develop good relations between Tanzania and DRC in improving heart treatment with the mission of building medical capacity, especially in heart treatment.

In addition, he said the visit comes after a team of doctors and representatives from JKCI and Muhimbili National Hospital visited DRC where they toured Ngaliema Referral Hospital in May this year.

"The visit which starts on Monday is a springboard for our health sector as Tanzania seeks to become centre for medical tourism in East Africa," he said.

"The Congolese doctors’ visit is part of building good relations with neighbouring countries as well as promoting the best treatment available in Tanzania," he said.

Mollel commended the government for investing in modern equipment and training specialists in various medical specialisations who serve Tanzanians.

“For heart treatment, Tanzania has made a big step because apart from the DRC, many countries have come to learn how we managed to invest in modern equipment and human resources,” he said.