COVER FEATURE
Dr Solanki.“ Our goal has always been to restore Zimbabwe’ s reputation as a leading healthcare destination in Africa.”
That vision is already becoming reality. Over the past two to three years, medical tourism into Zimbabwe has steadily increased, with patients now travelling from the DRC, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and even Nigeria. They come seeking neuro- and orthopaedic surgery, regenerative medicine, cosmetic surgery, and increasingly, cardiac care. Many choose Harare for convenience, affordability, and quality of care.
Trauma Centre Borrowdale remains at the forefront of medical technology.“ In today’ s global village, whatever equipment is available in the West is available in Zimbabwe,” Dr Solanki said. The Centre, with its clinic at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, uses advanced AI integration, follows international clinical protocols, and employs Zimbabwean super-specialists who have returned from the diaspora.
Dr Solanki has also become a regional leader in regenerative medicine – a field that has grown significantly over the last 10 to 15 years. His team treats chronic illnesses; autoimmune disorders; trauma recovery; and stroke rehabilitation using natural IV drips under the Jet Fuel™ Drip Bar banner hyperbaric oxygen therapy( HBOT), cryotherapy, ozone therapy, stem cell therapies, PRP( with or without Goldic ®) treatment, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. These programmes attract not only regional patients but international clients from Denmark, England, Scotland, Switzerland, and Holland, too.
This demand has led to the launch of a new initiative: the Zimbabwe Medical Safari, or medical tourism. Patients will undergo investigation and treatment at the hospital, recover while visiting national parks across Zimbabwe, return for followups, and then travel home. Significant inquiries have already been received ahead of the official roll-out.
Trauma Centre operates multiple clinics across Harare and maintains an office in Denmark. All facilities run on solar-supported power systems, and the organisation is committed to sustainability through water recycling, rainwater harvesting, French drains, and indigenous landscaping.
The hospital’ s one-stop model includes more than 30 resident specialists providing comprehensive services ranging from emergency care to pharmacy, radiology, ophthalmology, dentistry, maternity, cosmetic medicine, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, minimally invasive surgery, and cardiac interventions. Future plans include kidney and liver transplant programmes.
The Centre also operates comprehensive mentorship programmes for school leavers and medical students, providing attachments ranging from one to 12 weeks that emphasise professional development, medical ethics, and social responsibility. In addition, they train their own nurse’ s aides through a structured onemonth theory and three-month hospital-based programme, achieving a high retention rate of staff who remain with them long-term. Their training institute offers a wide variety of courses, including CPR, basic and advanced first aid, and essential neonatal care, among others.
Expansion into dialysis services is also underway, with plans to establish dialysis clinics in every major centre in Zimbabwe. These facilities run on solar and generator power, and all wastewater is purified onsite and reused to support gardens and roadside vegetation.“ Our Mount Pleasant Dialysis Clinic was recently awarded the Super Platinum Winner for Excellence by the Zimbabwe CEO Network, which makes us proud of our achievements and high standards”, says Dr Solanki.
In 2023, Dr Solanki was recognised as Zimbabwe’ s Most Innovative Medical Practitioner at the Zim Community Trailblazers Awards. In the same year, he was officially inducted into Zimbabwe’ s National Excellence Hall of Fame, marking a significant milestone in his contribution to healthcare innovation and service excellence. With over 40 years of medical practice, Dr Solanki attributes the Trauma Centre’ s continued success to its“ patient-centric” philosophy. The hospital is run as a family business by Dr Solanki and his wife, supported by a dedicated management team.
“ We avoid being overly corporate,” he said.“ Every patient is known by name. We invest in our staff, retain our nurses, and provide a safe, fully equipped environment. That personalised care is what makes all the difference.” IB
8 INBOUND SA / JANUARY 2026