Patient undertaking a blood pressure test/ HANDOUT
Kenya is
increasingly positioning itself as a regional health referral hub, buoyed by
growing numbers of foreign patients seeking specialised treatment at local
facilities, new data released by AAR Hospital shows.
Between January
and November this year, AAR Hospital received nearly 800 foreign nationals for
medical care, as Kenya gradually rose as a destination for medical tourism in
the region.
Ugandans accounted
for the highest number of foreign patients at the Kiambu Road–based hospital,
with 62 nationals seeking treatment during the period.
They were followed
by Congolese patients (58), Cameroonians (51) and South Sudanese (49),
highlighting strong regional demand for specialized healthcare services
available in Kenya.
AAR Hospital Chief
Executive Officer Dr Aysha Edwards said most of the foreign patients visit the
facility for highly specialized consultations and procedures.
“They mostly visit
for specialized consultations such as gastroenterology, general surgery,
cardiovascular, orthopedic surgery as well as maternity services,” Dr Edwards
said.
The hospital has
made significant investments in modern diagnostic, laboratory and theatre
equipment, including technology that enables laparoscopic surgery — a minimally
invasive procedure that shortens recovery time and improves patient outcomes.
Its strategic
location in Muthaiga North, along Nairobi’s diplomatic blue zone artery, has
also made the facility attractive to expatriates living in Nairobi and Kiambu
counties. According to hospital data, 40 Americans, 33 British nationals and 21
French citizens received treatment at the facility this year.
Overall, a total
of 788 foreign nationals from 94 different countries — excluding Kenyans —
sought medical services at AAR Hospital over the 11-month period.
Globally, medical
tourism is a rapidly expanding industry, with patients increasingly crossing
borders to access care unavailable or unaffordable in their home countries.
The Global Medical
Tourism Association estimates that about 14 million people travel
internationally for medical treatment each year.
Kenya, however,
still commands a relatively small share of this market.
According to the
Tourism Sector Performance Report 2024, medical tourists accounted for just 0.4
per cent of Kenya’s total visitors, with an estimated 7,944 people from the
East African Community travelling to the country for medical reasons during the
year.
Strengthening
medical tourism was identified as a key pillar under Kenya’s Vision 2030
development blueprint, which aims to position the country as a regional hub for
specialized healthcare.
Last month, AAR
Hospital received the SafeCare Level 5 certification, reflecting exceptionally
high standards of healthcare quality. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale
presided over the certification ceremony held on November 29.
The SafeCare
standards are awarded following a rigorous assessment of 13 key areas,
including governance and management, human resource management, patient rights
and access to care, risk management, outpatient and inpatient services, surgery
and anesthesia, laboratory and diagnostic imaging services, medication
management, facility management and support services.
The growing inflow
of foreign patients, healthcare experts say, signals Kenya’s untapped potential
to become a leading medical referral destination in the region if investments
in quality, specialization and international accreditation continue.