Evolution of Cardiac Arrythmia Management by Catheter Ablation in Tanzania

Abstract

In Tanzania, despite the expansion of cardiovascular management through the expansion of health system infrastructure to combat cardiovascular diseases, radiofrequency ablation of cardiac arrhythmias remains a major challenge as the current management with catheter ablation is inaccessible to the majority. Several limitations for developing invasive arrhythmia care are identified: lack of manpower, healthcare resources, health systems challenges, high cost of consumables, healthcare financing challenges and limited antiarrhythmic medications. The proposed solutions to address the unmet are: inauguration of a domestic arrhythmia society with dedicated prioritized academic programs, advocacy for training in the cost-effective conventional approach to arrhythmia ablation, reducing irrational claim deduction from insurers and regulation of central medical store policy, calling the Ministry of Health to implement insurance accreditation of radiofrequency ablation in Tanzania, sensitize the government to offer motivation to candidates pursuing electrophysiology career, the government through the Ministry of Health and education to transform the current training infrastructure to meet current academic needs including radiofrequency ablation services, the creation of training partnerships within Africa to improve local electrophysiology expertise. Radiofrequency ablation using a conventional approach, which is cost-effective, can be adopted to ensure service availability in Tanzania and the Sub-Sahara region. A unique responsibility lies within the government and financers to reinforce the efforts to implement these recommendations and achieve the medical tourism policy in Tanzania.