Uganda Cancer Institute is attracting foreign patientsUganda earned about $26m from medical tourism in 2024 after hosting about 20,000 foreign patients, but experts say the country can earn much more if it invests in infrastructure, human resources and marketing.When Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) discharged its second patient to have undergone successful bone marrow transplant for multiple myeloma – a type of blood cancer – last month, Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said it showed government’s efforts not just to reduce referrals abroad but to attract foreign patients.But experts say achieving this will take more than just performing advanced procedures.Philemon Okillong, a Research Analyst at the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), told URN that the Centre assessed Uganda’s health service exports potential and analysed foreign patients seeking care in Uganda. Most originate from East African Community (EAC) countries.In 2024, about 20,000 patients sought care in Uganda earning the country about $26m, with 86 percent receiving services at the Cancer Institute. At UCI, 53 percent of foreign patients were from South Sudan and 25 percent from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).Okillong said the finding was not surprising since UCI has been designated the region’s Centre of Excellence for oncology training and care by the EAC.He said there has recently been an increase in foreign patients seeking care in Uganda. This was also observed during the recent Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak, where 15 of the 20 confirmed cases in Uganda were from the DRC.However, Dr. Nixon Niyonzima, Director of Research and Training at UCI, said the rise in numbers has not come with a matching increase in foreign exchange from medical tourism.He said the quality of patients coming to the Institute are not the type that would spend much. Comparing with other countries that have invested in medical tourism, Uganda needs to learn from what is done elsewhere, including integrating Uganda Airlines with hospitals and providing information on available services.For some patients, he said, it is not just treatment and medical expertise that attracts them but ambience. While medical care at the Institute is top-notch and provided by highly qualified specialists, they still deal with crowds and underdeveloped infrastructure.Niyonzima cited radiotherapy, a key cancer intervention, saying the World Health Organization recommends one machine per one million population but the Institute operates only six such machines, leaving a gap of about 40 machines.He said while government has for over 10 years invested in major infrastructure and set up regional cancer centres to decongest the national facility at Mulago Hill, they remain constrained on human resources.With only 55 to 60 cancer specialists handling over 100 types of cancer, Uganda needs to invest in hiring high-quality human resources to attract high-spending patients.For now, even as UCI hosts the biggest number of foreign patients seeking care, Niyonzima said medical tourism is not yet their priority. Their immediate focus is ensuring regional cancer centres are operational and Ugandans access care timely.Brenda Kabasinguzi, Manager Export Marketing Services at the Uganda Free Zones and Exports Promotion Authority, said for Uganda to have international appeal as a medical tourism destination, it must market what is available.While medical services are generally not advertised, Kabasinguzi said the country needs to learn how it is done elsewhere, noting that possession of a resource alone does not automatically translate into gain.-URNThe post Uganda Earns $26m from Foreign Patients, But Experts Say It Can Do More appeared first on Business Focus.