Patients count cost as Singida referral hospital project stalls
The construction of the Singida Regional Referral Hospital in Tanzania has stalled for nearly a decade, forcing local patients to travel long distances for specialized care. Investigations reveal that mismanagement, contract terminations, and design revisions have prevented the project's completion.
Why it matters
The failure to complete critical public infrastructure projects directly impacts the accessibility and affordability of healthcare for vulnerable populations.
Dar es Salaam. Patients in Singida are paying a steep price for delays in completing the regional referral hospital, with some families selling livestock, farms and other property to finance long journeys, accommodation and specialised treatment in hospitals outside the region.
The three-storey hospital building, which was scheduled for completion in June 2019, remains unfinished nearly a decade after construction began, forcing patients seeking specialised care to travel to Dodoma, Mwanza, Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam.
The project was included in the government’s development plans in the 2016/17 financial year, with the tendering process beginning the following year.
Under the original plan, construction was to be completed by June 2019, according to the contracts reviewed during the investigation.
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