Dar es Salaam – President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday said Tanzania is accelerating efforts to improve neurosurgical care through expanded specialist training, modern hospital equipment and wider telemedicine access.
Opening the Second International Conference of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies(WFNS) in Dar es Salaam, Hassan said the government was committed to strengthening advanced healthcare services nationwide.
“Tanzania remains firmly committed to advancing neurosurgical care and strengthening specialized healthcare services,” Hassan said.
She said the government was increasing investment in human capital through scholarships, specialist training programmes and international partnerships aimed at raising the number of neurosurgeons and other healthcare professionals.
“We are expanding investment in human capital development through specialized training programs, scholarships and international partnerships to increase the number of neurosurgeons and other specialized professionals,” she said.
The conference, held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre(JINCC), is the first WFNS gathering hosted in Africa and follows the 2024 edition in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Delegates from more than 40 countries attended, including the United States, United Kingdom, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia and Qatar.
Hassan said Tanzania had already rolled out telemedicine equipment to all tertiary hospitals and most regional referral hospitals.
“This is enabling consultations, virtual support, improved access to specialized care and reduced costs, particularly for underserved communities,” she said.
Government figures show Tanzania’s number of general surgeons rose to 1,580 in April 2026 from 1,038 in 2020.
The country also now has 14 MRI machines, 97 CT scanners and 457 digital X-ray units, according to official data.
Hassan said Tanzania continued to face a growing burden of neurological disorders, with road traffic injuries remaining a leading cause.
“Tanzania, like many other low- and middle-income countries, continues to face a growing burden of neurological conditions,” she said.
She added that road traffic mortality in Tanzania exceeded 32 deaths per 100,000 people, above the African regional average of 26 per 100,000.
Health experts at the summit said stronger international cooperation and investment would be key to expanding neurosurgical care access across Africa.
