Zanzibar partnerships lower medical costs
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The Zanzibar Revolution Government partnered with private companies to operate more than 10 public hospitals, while the government maintains oversight.
Hamza Hassan Juma, Acting Minister of Health, explained this collaboration reduced medical expenses and the need to send patients abroad for treatment. Previously unavailable services like heart treatment and knee and hip replacements are now accessible within Zanzibar, saving money on travel costs. The public-private partnerships also improved healthcare capacity.
Specialist doctors from other countries are training local professionals, and the availability of medicines in district and regional hospitals has reached 97 percent. The government acknowledges and addresses citizen complaints about the partnerships, working to ensure service quality and protect public interests. The arrangement involves transferring management of ten, plus one hospital built by the government in the Mkoa region, to private sector operators.
