Kenya Airways (KQ), through its healthcare division, KQ Health, has inked a deal with Aga Khan University Hospital in its bid to enhance the untapped medical travel business as the number of people who fly out of Africa to seek medical care hit a record Sh20 million.
According to Kenya Airways, CEO, Allan Kilavuka, the national carrier is leaving nothing to chance to rule Africa’s healthcare market.
The goal is also to position Kenya as a leading destination for quality healthcare within the continent.
“This is an example of how aviation can directly support healthcare access… we’re connecting people not just to destinations, but to essential services that can change lives,” Kivaluka says.
KQ Health will provide end-to-end logistical support for patients, including medical clearances before travel, in-flight medical assistance, and direct ambulance transfers from the airport to Aga Khan University Hospital. AKUH on the other hand, will receive and treat patients in key specialties such as oncology, cardiology, surgery, and critical care.
This partnership, besides making it easier for patients, particularly in Africa to access world-class healthcare without leaving the continent, also answers the ‘why do people go outside the country to get medical care?”
“When patients get treatment closer home, it means more convenient travel for them and their families, familiar environment and culture to recover in and a sense of pride in the quality of care available at home,” says Rashid Khalani, the CEO of Aga Khan University Hospital.
Medical travel has become a growing need across Africa, with many patients still relying on overseas care. By coordinating transport and treatment locally, Kenya Airways and Aga Khan University Hospital aim to offer a safer, more affordable, and dignified alternative closer to home.
