As Kenyans go to South Africa, rich Ugandans prefer Nairobi

 Kizza Besigye was airlifted to  Nairobi Hospital in 2011 for specialised treatment

Retired President Mwai Kibaki was airlifted to South Africa for specialised treatment after suffering a mild stroke this week. South Africa, it appears, has become the preferred medical destination for Kenya's Who's Who, upstaging the UK which was the choice country for politicians.

Retired President Kibaki is undergoing surgery for a blood clot at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg.

Average Kenyans take their medical tourism to India whose affordable hospitals have become globally known for cancer treatment and organ transplants cases. Never mind top politicians, army generals and the wealthy in neighbouring Uganda prefer jetting to Kenya for treatment at facilities like the Nairobi Hospital.

But for monied Kenyans, South Africa is tops even though previously it was the UK which they preferred. The late Vice President Kijana Wamalwa whose 13th memorial was held recently was taken ill to the UK, same as the late Mama Lucy Kibaki who died at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London.

But South Africa is gradually taking its pride of place for its advanced healthcare facilities.

A source at AMREF health Kenya that airlifted Kibaki to Netcare told The Nairobian that South Africa has proved that their medical services are at par with premier European hospitals.

"We take patients to destinations of their choice across the globe but sometimes we offer advice on where they should be treated, especially when it is a severe case. Sincerely SA hospitals are excellent" said the source, adding that "many clients are opting for SA because of their services and distance. In critical situations we advise them to head there". The average flying time between Nairobi and South Africa is four hours and 15 minutes while between Nairobi and UK is eight hours and 44 minutes.

The Netcare Sunninghill Hospital has some of the best medical facilities and the country's top specialists. It is best known for its cardiology unit dealing with electrophysiology, paediatric cardiology, cardio thoracic surgery, cardiac catheterisation laboratories and the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Foundation. Its electrophysiology laboratory offers patients a comprehensive arrhythmia service. The laboratory is the first in Africa and the second in the southern hemisphere to offer stereotaxis for remote magnetic navigation within the heart and incorporates technology such as a CARTO mapping system and a Siemens imaging system.

Here patients requiring complicated cardiac intervention become part of live workshops that are beamed to national and international cardiac congresses

The World Health Organisation notes that the fees charged by South African private hospitals are among the highest in the world, on par with places like the UK, Germany and France, countries with higher GDP levels, but apparently South African hospitals have become reputable with treatment of acute ailments particularly heart attacks and strokes that are synonymous with the aging.

Kibaki is not the first prominent Kenyan to head south for treatment. In 2009, the former head of public service ambassador Francis Muthaura underwent a heart surgery for a blood clot at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital. In 2010, politician and business mogul Gerishon Kirima died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in SA while in 2014 former Kangema MP and one-time Education Minister JJ Kamotho died at Hilpark Hospital. Milpark is famous for electrophysiology, cardiac catheterisation, heart and lung transplants and it was where the late president of South Africa Nelson Mandera was treated for acute respiratory infection in January 2011 and underwent a laparoscopy in 2012.