With the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tancloud Co. Ltd., a local cloud computing company, and Electronic Health Network, a UK firm, to build digital networks in the Zanzibar health sector, more digital applications will eventually be available in the provision of health services in Zanzibar.
After signing the deal here over the weekend, Health Minister Nassor Ahmed Mazrui stated that the goal of this arrangement is to efficiently and modernly provide online health services throughout the nation.
Residents of Zanzibar will receive timely medical care customized to their needs thanks to the networking system, an initiative that is expected to have a major positive impact on the neighborhood.
He mentioned several changes aimed at enhancing the quality of the health sector services and turning the popular tourist spot into a medical tourism hub for East Africa.
He outlined government aims to align the services with wider regional and worldwide standards, saying that the main focus is to expand investments in high-quality infrastructure and skilled medical professionals to support the provision of high-quality health services.
He chose the Indian example as a sector role model, in which the government likewise attempts to offer comparable treatment to citizens who choose to receive their medical care outside of Zanzibar.
According to him, the adjustments will significantly reduce the need for Zanzibaris to travel overseas for medical care, while simultaneously aiming to persuade neighbors to think about visiting Zanzibar for better medical care.
For the great majority of people, the government would guarantee health protection; “and everyone should understand that their health is their investment because, without health, there isno investment,” the official said.
He predicted that soon there will be major changes in healthcare services, “transforming the provision of health services for everyone to receive reliable care promptly, satisfied with the services they receive,” and that Zanzibar will be acknowledged as a center of health investment.
Rejecting claims about the private sector’s involvement, he declared that district, regional, and referral hospitals’ health services are still not privatized by the government. Rather, he clarified, it is working in tandem with the private sector to augment hospital administration and optimize efficacy.
According to him, many people would rather use private hospitals, frequently paying large sums of money, while those who cannot afford these expenses must rely on donations.
He emphasized that this program shows compassion on the part of health authorities led by President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi. He stated that the government pays the private sector for treating patients at government hospitals at no expense to them.
The minister stated that the partnerships aim to put contemporary technology in hospitals and health centers. Patients receive free care while the government reimburses the private sector organizations engaged for their services.
Systems for the acquisition and distribution of drugs are among them. Tancloud Co. Ltd. director Dr. Sumeya Okod said the company is ready to supply top-notch technology that effectively supports the goals of the ministry.
She continued, “The primary focus will be on utilizing advanced digital technology to enhance healthcare services.” The six-year arrangement is worth at about $170 million.
