The partnership agreement, signed in September 2018 between the Peking University International Hospital (PUIH) of China and the Muhimbili Orthopaedic and Neurological Institute (MOI) of the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, will enable the latter to become the best neurosurgery facility in all of Africa.

This message came from the MOI Executive Director, Dr. Respicious Boniface, at the State House in Dar es Salaam on Feb. 26, 2019, when a team led by Head of the Department of Brain and Nerve Surgery from PUIH in China, Prof. Zhao Yuanli, met the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Dr. John Pombe Magufuli.

Many other officials attended the talks, including the Chinese Ambassador in Tanzania, His Excellency Wang Ke; the Tanzania Minister for Health, Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms. Ummy Mwalimu, and the MNH Director-General, Prof. Lawrence Mujungu Museru.

PUIH is a non-profit hospital affiliated with Peking University. It is a combination of medicare, teaching and research, in line with international practices, that provides medical services for patients covered by Beijing social medical insurance, commercial insurance, public medicare and foreign insurance schemes.

For its part, MOI is an autonomous institute established to provide healthcare services in the fields of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Neurosurgery in Tanzania.

Revealing that Tanzania aims to receive a number of top-notch brain surgeons and arthritis specialists through this partnership, Dr. Boniface told guests, "Apart from the successful surgery on one patient yesterday (Feb. 25), two other patients will be undergoing surgery today (Feb. 26). This partnership will enable MOI to become the best brain and nerve surgery institution in Africa."

President Magufuli has already had fruitful discussions with Prof. Zhao and his team of professionals, and has agreed that PUIH will work closely with the Tanzanian Institute for Orthopedic Surgery, the Muhimbili Brain Surgery and Therapeutic Surgery (MOI).

Commenting on this development, Health Minister Ms. Ummy Mwalimu said, "Tanzanians should be grateful that such services will henceforth be readily available in the country, and there will no longer be the need to travel abroad for treatment. We are thankful for President Magufuli’s vision. He noted that doctors were able to provide treatment for patients who otherwise had to undergo complicated operations overseas."

During the event, Prof. Zhao Yuanli, the PUIH Head of the Department of Brain and Nerve Surgery, commended the President Magufuli Government for its considerable investment in the country’s health sector.

Prof. Zhao stressed that Dr. Magufuli had made significant efforts to ensure that MOI is reinforced by investment in infrastructure, and also took the opportunity to assure Tanzania that PUIH will ensure that the agreement signed last year between MOI and PUIH is fully implemented.

"There are over 50 million Tanzanians; and among them, there are people with brain disorders – headaches, brain tumors, and arthritis – who need the right treatment in good time, and within their country. However, I'm told that there are only ten professionals in this crucial healthcare area. That's why we are here, to see how to help increase the specialized healthcare capacity," Prof. Zhao said.

President Magufuli thanked the Peking University International Hospital for accepting his request to establish a partnership with the MOI Hospital.

The president assured Prof. Zhao that the Government of Tanzania is able, willing and ready to closely cooperate with all stakeholders in enabling MOI to enhance its ability, capability, and capacity to provide brain and cardiovascular services to Tanzanians who have no access to these services, or the high costs of accessing treatment overseas.