Nairobi, Aug. 20 -- Private hospitals are borrowing billions of shillings to buy MRI machines, dialysis units and other specialist equipment, as banks build a fast-growing lending business around the country's push into advanced healthcare.

As they expand into oncology, cardiology, renal care, fertility, and advanced diagnostics, private hospitals, faith-based facilities, clinics, and diagnostic centres are turning to bank loans to acquire MRI machines, dialysis units, linear accelerators, mammography machines, and other specialised equipment.

Equity Bank alone has lent about Sh33 billion to the healthcare sector over the past five years, channelling Sh11.5 billion of it for medical equipment, as private hospitals, faith-based facilitie...