Africa has a reputation for having terrible healthcare facilities. While that may be true, Africa is also home to some of the best medical institutes. Some of these facilities have made history by pioneering life-changing procedures and conducting groundbreaking research.
Below are ten of the best medical facilities on the continent.
10. Centre Hospitalier Ibn Sina Rabat, Morocco
The general medical and surgical hospital in Rabat, Morocco, has approximately 6,540 employees and is ranked in the 79th percentile. The hospital announced a computerised triage system in the paediatric emergency department to improve the quality of care.
9. Institut Pasteur De Tunis, Tunisia
The Institute Pasteur De Tunis is one of the International Network Institutes Pasteur’s primary research centres. According to the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR).
It is ranked in the 75th percentile overall. The Institute deals with epidemiological and clinical research, biomedical research, and research activities on human and animal health.
8. Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa
Located in Parow, Tygerberg was founded in 1976. It is the most significant health facility in the Western Cape and the second largest in South Africa, with about 1899 beds. It works mainly in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences of Stellenbosch University. Over 3.6 million people receive health care from Tygerberg directly or via its secondary hospitals, such as Paarl and Worcester Hospital.
7. National Organisation for Drug Control and Research Facility, Egypt (NODCAR)
Ranking in the 73rd percentile overall for research output, innovation, and societal impact, NODCAR is a Ministry of Health component that was built in 1976 and is responsible for the quality control of pharmaceutical products, biologics, cosmetics, medical devices, raw
materials, veterinary products, household insecticides, medicinal plants, and natural products in Egypt.
6. Egyptian National Cancer Institute, Egypt (NCI)
This non-profit organisation was established during the 1950s and is dedicated to treating, managing, and developing a cure for cancer. It is affiliated with the Breast Cancer Hospital, which receives more than 250 patients daily and includes 80 beds, three operating rooms, and intensive care beds.
5. Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa
The state-funded Groote Schuur is located in Cape Town, Western Cape, and was founded in 1938. It is famous for being the institution where the first human-to-human heart transplant occurred. It is the chief academic hospital of the University of Cape Town’s medical school. The hospital was declared a Western Cape Provincial Heritage Site in 1996.
4. Aga Khan University Hospital, Kenya
Established in 1958, Aga Khan University Hospital is a 254-bed long-term care facility offering general medical services, specialist clinics, and diagnostic services. The hospital has created a name for being a leading institution in East Africa for its comprehensive healthcare and modern medical education.
3. National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania
The National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania (NIMR) is a parastatal organisation under the Ministry responsible for Health by Parliament Act No. 23 of 1979. It is mandated to carry out, promote, monitor, control, coordinate, and evaluate health research. The human resource capacity at NIMR is approximately 1,000 staff, with 157 research and laboratory scientists, of which 40% are Ph.D. holders.
2. South African Medical Research Council, South Africa
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) was established in 1969 to conduct and fund health research, innovation, development, and translation. The facility researches the top 10 causes of death, comorbidities, disabilities, and risk factors, including laboratory investigations, clinical research, and public health studies.
1. Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya
The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) was built in 1979 and has become a regional leader in human health research. KEMRI’s motto is “In Search of Better Health,” serving as the government’s medical research arm. The Institute advises the Ministry on vast factors of health care, surveys national diseases, and offers rapid response to major outbreaks.