Ugandans will no longer need to travel abroad for specialized medical treatment following the opening of the Aga Khan University-AKU Hospital Nakawa Specialty Center bringing specialized treatment closer to patients.
The Nakawa Specialty Centre is going to give unmatched opportunities for Ugandans to access world-class medical and nursing services whenever they need them.
The facility along the Kampala-Jinja highway will offer chemotherapy, dialysis, diagnostic imaging such as CT scans, and access to medical specialists in numerous fields.
The Centre will offer Ugandans the same treatment as that offered in hospitals overseas at an affordable cost.
“We are coming in to offer these services at an affordable rate. If you look at the cost of getting chemo in Nairobi versus the cost of getting chemo here, it is way cheaper. We are saying come from your home, straight to the facility, get your chemo, and you go home” said Diana Sewanyana the Aga Khan Country manager of business development and operation.
It is believed that the establishment of this new hospital will reduce the money spent by many Ugandans on medical tourism.
“The Aga Khan, hospital Nakawa specialty center brings to this city quality health care. Ugandans are looking for quality health care and that is what the Aga Khan University Hospital comes in to address” she affirmed.
This quality health care will be offered by highly qualified Ugandan doctors.
“We have sourced out the best specialists. Many of which are Ugandans. Many Ugandans are very highly qualified. 95% of our specialist team is Ugandan. They have come back from East Africa, they’ve come back from wider Africa, and they’ve come back from the United Kingdom. They are all back home to offer this service because now they feel that the facilities are available” states Ssewanyana.
Currently, Ugandans spend USD 2.2 million for the treatment of public servants abroad.
AgaKhan University Hospital in Nairobi has been receiving patients from Uganda seeking specialized treatment in cancer, heart diseases, brain tumors, and neurosurgeons
AKU and the Aga Khan Health Services operate five hospitals and more than 100 clinics that care for more than two (2) million patients annually in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.