Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Professional Boxing Regulatory Commission (TPBRC) has begun seeking sponsorship agreements with hospitals to reduce the cost of MRI and CT Scan examinations after growing concerns from boxers and stakeholders over the high price of the tests.
The move comes amid increasing calls for reforms in boxing health management, with many stakeholders warning that the high cost of specialised medical examinations is preventing boxers from receiving crucial tests that could detect hidden injuries and prevent serious health complications.
An investigation by The Citizenfound that many professional boxers in Tanzania are unable to afford MRI and CT Scan examinations, leaving them vulnerable to severe injuries, disabilities and, in some cases, death.
Stakeholders in the sport say some fighters enter the ring with undetected head injuries and other medical conditions that only become apparent after they have suffered blows during a fight.
They have urged the government, sponsors and boxing authorities to lower the cost of the tests, improve access to health insurance and strengthen medical screening systems to safeguard the lives of fighters.
