Dr Rajni Kanabar

The Regency Medical Centre has introduced advanced laparoscopic surgery programme, saving needy patients the cost of seeking such services abroad.

According to Dr Rajni Kanabar, Chairman of the Regency Medical Centre, the newly introduced programme would reduce costs for patients who go to India and other countries for laparoscopic surgery.

“Instead of going abroad for laparoscopic operations, people would be able to access the service right here, saving money and time for the patients,” said Dr Kanabar.

“We are grateful to Dar es Salaam-born consultant gynaecologist and laparoscopic surgeon from Dallas USA, Dr Mahendra Thakrar who generously donated to RMC the equipment and also worked voluntarily for three months last year at our medical centre training our doctors in this technology of laparoscopy,” said Dr Kanabar.

Traditionally surgeons had to rely upon big incisions to reach organs in abdomen resulting in a lot of pain, prolonged hospital stay, incision related infections, hand big scars of operation, Dr Kanabar said.

“However, minimal access surgery makes it possible for surgeons to reach various organs in the body cavities through small cuts ensuring cosmetic results, early recovery and early return to work,” he explained.

For the past several years, laparoscopic services in Tanzania are being offered at very basic level, according to Dr Kanabar, noting that under the comprehensive programme Regency Medical Centre would provide a broad range of laparoscopic surgery services, including removal of gall bladder for stone disease, lap appendicectomy, laparoscopic hernia repairs, laparoscopic ovarian and fibroid surgery & laparoscopic operations for infertility patients.

One patient, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the hospital on June 21, this year said she had been suffering severe pain in her upper abdomen, with vomiting for the last few months and was diagnosed to be having gall stones.

She was discharged a day after the operation and can do her routine household activities at ease, without any pain or discomfort.