The Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) is constructing a state-of-the-art cardiovascular centre that is expected to transform access to specialised heart care across northern Tanzania.
A foundation stone-laying ceremony, held at the hospital’s premises in Moshi last week, brought together government leaders, development partners, health professionals and members of the public to witness the milestone.
The new centre is being constructed at an estimated cost of over Sh 25 billion, with overall project projections reaching up to $20 million. Construction began in 2024 and the facility is expected to begin operations next year. As of March 2026, the project was reported to be approximately 35 per cent complete.
Once operational, the cardiovascular centre will feature two fully equipped operating theatres, two catheterisation laboratories and a capacity of between 100 and 125 beds, providing both adult and paediatric cardiac care. It is expected to serve more than 15 million people across the northern zone and neighbouring regions.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Florence Samizi, said the project was a strategic investment in life-saving healthcare. “It will help to raise awareness of the serious heart problems in the country,” she added.
“For too long, families in Northern Tanzania have had to travel to Dar es Salaam or even abroad to seek specialised heart treatment. This centre changes that reality. It brings advanced care closer to the people who need it,” noted the Head of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Bishop Dr Alex Gehaz Malasusa.
The Executive Director of KCMC, Prof Gileard Masenga, emphasised that cardiovascular diseases are increasingly contributing to Tanzania’s burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD), creating urgent demand for expanded specialist services.
“This is not simply an infrastructure project,” he said, adding, “it is a long-term commitment to building local expertise, strengthening our referral system and ensuring that no patient is denied care because of distance.”
The centre is expected to become the second-largest specialised heart unit in Tanzania, easing pressure on facilities in Dar es Salaam’s Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) and improving timely access to treatment.
KCMC is partnering with international institutions, including the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, as well as consultants from the Netherlands, to support knowledge transfer and skills development.
Tanzanian specialists are undergoing advanced cardiac training in India under a programme which will take three years, as part of efforts to ensure the centre is fully staffed with highly trained personnel once operational.
Beyond treatment services, the facility will also function as a regional training hub, supporting the development of cardiovascular specialists from eastern and southern Africa.
