Zambia has signed a memorandum of understanding for the proposed development of a US$2 billion Medical City in Lusaka, in a project the Government says could expand access to specialist healthcare while supporting its wider ambitions for tourism, skills development and private investment.
The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi during the UAE-Zambia Business Forum by Health Minister Professor Roma Chilengi and Eng. Khaled Al Attar, Director-General of DIHAD Sustainable Organisation, in the presence of President Hakainde Hichilema. DIHAD said the agreement establishes a framework for the development of Zambia Medical City.
The proposed development is planned on about 100 hectares near Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, in partnership with the Zambia Airports Corporation. It is expected to combine specialist medical facilities with training, accommodation, conference facilities, commercial space and other services.
Among the proposed clinical services are paediatric cardiac care, renal transplantation and kidney disease treatment, oncology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, maternal and child healthcare and rehabilitation. The project is also expected to incorporate robotics, artificial intelligence and other technologies alongside medical training and research.
For Zambia, the significance of the proposal extends beyond the construction of another major hospital. The country has sought to strengthen domestic specialist capacity and reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for complex procedures. A Medical City could, if implemented as proposed, create a platform for treatment, specialist training and knowledge transfer within Zambia.
The development is also being presented as part of the country’s emerging medical tourism strategy. Its proposed hotels, conference facilities, retail space and residential accommodation would create an ecosystem intended to serve patients, accompanying relatives, medical professionals and visitors.
That ambition sits within the Government’s broader Grow Zambia Agenda, unveiled in September, which includes a target of five million tourist arrivals annually by 2031.
However, the US$2 billion figure should not be interpreted as Government expenditure or capital already committed to construction. The agreement provides a framework under which DIHAD and the Zambian Government will work to identify partners and investors for the development. Zambia24 reported that the Government has indicated the Medical City agreement carries no direct financial commitment for the state.
This distinction will be important as the project progresses. Large healthcare developments require substantial capital not only for construction but also for specialist equipment, staffing, accreditation, maintenance and long-term operating capacity. The ability to secure financing and credible healthcare partners will therefore determine whether the proposed development moves from an investment framework to operational infrastructure.
DIHAD has also indicated that the initiative is intended to strengthen Zambia’s healthcare capacity and position the country as a regional centre for integrated healthcare services.
For Zambia and neighbouring countries, the potential regional dimension is significant. Specialist healthcare infrastructure can reduce the distance patients travel for treatment while creating opportunities for medical education and professional collaboration within Africa. Whether the Medical City ultimately develops into a regional health hub will depend on implementation, affordability, clinical standards and the availability of appropriately trained personnel.
For now, the agreement represents a proposed investment framework rather than a completed project. Its significance will ultimately be determined by the mobilisation of capital, construction, recruitment of specialists and the point at which patients can access the promised services in Lusaka.
