Overview

Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which works across Asia and Africa. AKHS focuses on delivering high-quality health care, building capacity in health systems, and promoting preventive care. It operates hospitals, medical centres, and outreach clinics, serving millions of people every year.

Principles & Approach

Continuum of Care (Hub & Spoke model): Primary and outreach health centres (“spokes”) are digitally and administratively linked to referral hospitals (“hubs”), ensuring patients receive seamless care at every level.

Commitment to Quality: Facilities maintain international accreditation standards such as ISO, Joint Commission International (JCI), and SafeCare.

Collaboration: AKHS works closely with governments, NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector. It is also integrated with the wider AKDN, which combines efforts in health, education, infrastructure, and environment.

Training & Education: Investment is made in training health professionals and supporting postgraduate education, often in partnership with the Aga Khan University.

Focus on Prevention: Services emphasize not only treatment but also disease prevention, early intervention, and public health education.

AKHS in Tanzania

History: AKHS began its work in Tanzania in 1929 with a health dispensary in Dar es Salaam. In 1964, it expanded into a hospital, which has since grown into a 170-bed tertiary referral and teaching hospital.

Network: The system uses a hub-and-spoke model:

Hub: Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam

Sub-hub: Aga Khan Hospital/Medical Centre in Mwanza

Spokes: A network of health centres and polyclinics across multiple regions, including a newly established polyclinic in Zanzibar.

Services: Offers general medicine, specialty clinics, inpatient and outpatient care, diagnostic and emergency services, and advanced programs such as oncology, maternal and child health, and postgraduate medical education.

Quality Recognition: The Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam is the only JCI-accredited hospital in Tanzania. Laboratories and several outreach centres have also received quality certifications.

Expansion: AKHS Tanzania is expanding cancer care services, strengthening health system integration, and working toward sustainability goals such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its facilities.