Economy

MP Shah Hospital setting up specialised treatment centre

mpsha

MP Shah chief executive Anup Das. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NMG

MP Shah Hospital is building a hub for specialised treatment in Nairobi, joining Kenya’s top class medical facilities which are seeking to lock in millions of shillings that African patients spend on healthcare abroad.

The centre will be build at Village Market at a cost of over Sh200 million, managers said. The facility will open its doors next year, offering 25 specialists of cancer, kidney diseases, childcare clinics, eye and dental procedures alongside cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons.

This is set to be MP Shah’s first satellite hospital, outside its main address in the city’s Parklands area.

“We will have exhibition health checkups like the ones in Europe where patients stay for a day or two to enjoy a blended experience of healthcare, shopping and luxury,” said MP Shah chief executive Anup Das.

He said the hub will be run largely by local doctors, supplemented by a handful of specialists from Europe, India and the United States.

The Economic Development in Africa report 2017 released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) in July said that Kenya is one of Africa’s top beneficiaries of cross-border travel for medical purposes.

READ: Sh643m cancer centre set to be built at MP Shah

The report said that Nairobi’s private health and wellness facilities are wooing hundreds of visitors from neighbouring countries and helping to boost tourism.

MP Shah was expected to complete, in December, an eight-storey building for oncology, physiotherapy and maternity that would employ 200 more medical staff.

The completion date has, however, been pushed to mid next year after suffering delays, according to Mr Das.

Kenya reports about 40,000 new cancer cases every year but has a few hospitals with capacity to offer treatment, prompting hundreds to travel overseas, a niche the hospital is eyeing.