The government in partnership with Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, India, has entered into an agreement to establish a specialty health facility in the country.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to that effect was signed, Friday, by the Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, and Dr. K. Hari Prasad, the Chief Executive Apollo Hospital for the Central region.

Apollo Hospitals India is a hospital chain based in Chennai, India. It was founded by Dr. Prathap C. Reddy in 1983. With over 8500 beds across 53 hospitals within and outside India, the Apollo Hospitals Group is one of the largest healthcare groups in Asia.

Referred to as the ‘Architect of Healthcare in India’, the Apollo hospitals with the help of the latest technology and exceptionally committed medical practitioners provide outstanding healthcare facilities.

The agreement covers areas of strengthening collaboration and building a long term partnership for better healthcare services for the citizens of Rwanda, by offering super-specialist consultation services, training of medical and paramedical personnel and treatment of patients in need of specialized care.

Apollo Hospitals Group will share its experience and provide its expertise to the government to establish a super specialty hospital, with intent to create a self sustainable healthcare delivery model in the country.

The minister said Apollo Hospital in India will establish a similar facility in Rwanda but the construction of the hospital will be funded by the government.

Binagwaho said that the hospital aspires to be the best in the region, handling all cases of complicated diseases that are not treated anywhere in the region.

"Rwandans have been facing a challenge of flying abroad for treatment after being referred by hospitals here in the country; therefore this super specialty hospital will address the challenge,” she asserted.

She mentioned that after the cabinet approves the deal, a proper business plan will be made stating the amount of money needed to set up the hospital.

According to Prasad, the hospital has been offering quality healthcare services and advice to several African nations and now wants to associate with Rwanda.

"Our aim is to improve health care in Rwanda like the way we did in India when we established Apollo Hospital,” he said.

He added that the health facility is of great importance since it will handle all complicated health cases like kidney transplants, cancer, among others.

Dr. Col. Ben Karenzi, the Commandant Rwanda Military Hospital, said that he was among a group of doctors who visited India last month and met the management team of Apollo Hospitals to sign a Letter of Intent towards establishing the hospital in Rwanda.

"Partnering with Apollo hospital will help us and others from the region who have been going abroad for treatment,” he added.

Karenzi stated that due to the partnership, Apollo has accepted to give Rwandans five percent discount preferential tariff to each complicated health case for the people who will be undergoing treatment in India before Apollo Hospital is established in Rwanda.

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