The Mozambican government has announced plans to strengthen the country’s national diagnostic and specialist treatment capacity in order to reduce the transfer of patients abroad, calling on the private sector to invest in medical equipment and services.

The position was set out on Wednesday, 28 October, in Maputo, by Health Minister Ussene Isse at the opening of the second edition of the Mozambique Medical Expo 2026, where he appealed for the creation of partnerships between the government, private clinics, laboratories, and pharmacy networks to improve medical care.

“We are transferring patients out of our country to undergo tests and treatment abroad, namely in South Africa and India. Do we not have the internal capacity to resolve this problem?” the minister asked, calling for concrete measures to expand the supply of specialist services.

Among the main constraints highlighted by Isse was the breakdown of the country’s sole radiotherapy unit, whose rehabilitation has been hampered by the unavailability of spare parts following the discontinuation of the equipment. “The lack of this equipment limits the capacity to treat patients with certain types of cancer, including cervical cancer,” he said.

Quoted by the Mozambique Information Agency, Isse argued that the public sector requires greater participation from private operators to meet the population’s healthcare needs, underscoring the importance of investment in medicines, medical equipment, and specialist services.

Isse also highlighted the need to increase the response capacity of the national health system in the face of population growth and the rising burden of chronic non-communicable diseases.

The Mozambique Medical Expo 2026 brings together operators and other stakeholders from the healthcare sector, with a focus on innovation, investment, and the establishment of partnerships to improve the delivery of medical care in the country.