Rwanda is set to expand access to specialized medical care after the upgraded Masaka Hospital increased its capacity to more than 800 beds and introduced facilities for advanced diagnosis and treatment.
The hospital, which has been expanded over four years at a cost of more than 85 billion Rwandan francs, is expected to accommodate the relocation of the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK).
Masaka Hospital has grown from 6,398 square meters to 56,957 square meters. Its bed capacity has increased from 127 to more than 800, while the facility is expected to handle about 2,000 outpatients a day.
The hospital was constructed by Chinese company Shanghai Construction Group Co. Ltd. and was officially handed over to the Government of Rwanda on Friday.
Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana said CHUK will move to Masaka in phases to avoid disrupting services at its current location.
“We are now preparing for patients to start receiving treatment here,” Nsanzimana said. “The existing CHUK facility is still operating, but the relocation will be done in a way that ensures services are not disrupted.”
The expanded facility includes 18 operating theaters, inpatient and outpatient buildings, modern diagnostic equipment, radiology facilities and a helipad for critically ill patients requiring urgent care.
Nsanzimana said the hospital will also offer specialized services that are currently limited in Rwanda, including organ transplants, surgery and bone marrow transplants.
He said the new services could help reduce the number of Rwandans seeking treatment abroad and attract patients from other African countries.
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi said the completion of the construction marked the end of the first phase of the project.
He said the next phase would focus on training, research and sharing medical knowledge and experience between Rwandan and Chinese health professionals.
The hospital’s patient rooms include single and shared rooms, private bathrooms and facilities designed to improve access for people with disabilities.
The expanded hospital is expected to strengthen Rwanda’s capacity to provide advanced medical care while supporting the country’s efforts to develop specialized health services.
