The announcement was made by JKCI Executive Director Dr. Peter Kisenge during the inauguration of the institute's new administration and diagnostic facilities in Dar es Salaam.

Dr. Kisenge said the institute has transformed access to advanced cardiac care in Tanzania by providing highly specialized procedures that were previously available only abroad. These include open-heart surgeries, heart valve replacements, correction of congenital heart defects in children, and coronary artery bypass graft operations.

JKCI has also introduced several advanced procedures that remain uncommon in East and Central Africa. Among them is Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive technique that allows doctors to replace damaged heart valves without opening the chest.

According to Dr. Kisenge, JKCI recently became the first institution in East and Central Africa to use shockwave technology to treat blocked coronary arteries. The institute has also successfully performed complex pediatric cardiac surgeries, including arterial switch operations for children born with severe heart defects.

"These achievements have not only saved lives but have significantly reduced the need for patients to seek treatment outside the country," Dr. Kisenge said.

He noted that while local treatment at JKCI has cost the government approximately 19 billion shillings, sending the same patients abroad—particularly to India—would have exceeded 114 billion shillings, resulting in savings of more than 95 billion shillings.

The institute has recorded substantial growth in patient volumes and specialized procedures over recent years. Annual outpatient visits have increased from approximately 102,000 in 2021 to 262,000 currently. The number of major cardiac surgeries reached 723 in 2025, and JKCI projects that figure will surpass 1,000 procedures in 2026.

Dr. Kisenge said these achievements have positioned JKCI as the largest center for advanced cardiac surgery in East and Central Africa.

Minimally invasive cardiac interventions have also expanded significantly, rising from 330 procedures in 2015 to 2,577 in 2025.

The institute additionally operates the region's only Carto mapping system, an advanced technology used to diagnose and treat complex cardiac arrhythmias.

Since assuming leadership of JKCI in 2021, Dr. Kisenge said the institute has pursued an ambitious expansion program aimed at improving access to specialized cardiac services across Tanzania.

JKCI currently operates facilities in Upanga, Kawe, Oysterbay, Kariakoo and Chato, with plans underway to establish a new center in Mwanza to serve communities in the Lake Zone.

The expansion has attracted patients from more than 20 countries, strengthening Tanzania's profile as an emerging destination for specialized healthcare and medical tourism in Africa.

Dr. Kisenge attributed the institute's progress to decades of government investment in healthcare infrastructure and specialist training.

He traced the origins of Tanzania's cardiac care development to the 1970s, when the government under the country's founding president, Julius Nyerere, began investing in the training of local heart specialists to address a shortage of medical professionals.

Among the early pioneers were Prof. William Makene and Dr. Johnson Lwakatare, who received specialized training in the United Kingdom before returning to practice in Tanzania.

Subsequent administrations continued expanding the country's cardiac expertise. During the presidency of Ali Hassan Mwinyi, additional specialists received advanced training, while a partnership with India under President Benjamin Mkapa enabled 26 doctors, nurses and technicians to undergo specialized cardiac training.

Dr. Kisenge also credited former President Jakaya Kikwete for facilitating cooperation with China that led to the construction of JKCI's dedicated facility at Muhimbili National Hospital.

Construction of the institute began in 2011, was completed in 2013, and JKCI officially commenced operations in 2015. Today, the institute serves as a regional referral center for advanced cardiac care and continues to expand its role in improving healthcare access across East and Central Africa.

Notes to Editors

The Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute was established to provide advanced cardiac care within Tanzania and reduce dependence on overseas treatment.

JKCI estimates that it has saved the government more than 95 billion Tanzanian shillings by treating patients locally rather than referring them abroad.

Officials report that local treatment costs amounted to approximately 19 billion shillings compared with an estimated 114 billion shillings if the same patients had been treated overseas.

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