Shisong Cardiac Center: Kumbo, Cameroon
Shisong Cardiac Center in Kumbo, Cameroon, is a regional cardiac referral center in central Africa. As the continent transitions from communicable to non-communicable diseases, there is a critical shortage of surgical care required to treat these conditions. This case describes an innovative solution to the shortage of professional skills: an international collaboration between a hospital in Milan and a hospital in Cameroon. The case highlights the challenges of building and staffing the facility and then discusses the ongoing operational and financial challenges of operating a heart center in Africa. Can this model be sustained? Can Cameroon develop its own capability to deliver advanced cardiac services domestically? These are critical questions to consider. In spite of these challenges, co-founder Sr. Alphonsa finds hope in her favorite African proverb, “Your heart can take you where your feet cannot.”
Keywords: Finance; Operations; Health Care and Treatment; Health Industry; Africa;
Citation:
Schulman, Kevin, and Nelly-Ange Konthcou. "Shisong Cardiac Center: Kumbo, Cameroon." Harvard Business School Case 317-085, January 2017. (Revised January 2019.) View Details