DAR ES sALAAM:
A total of 890 out of 2, 246 (equivalent to 39.6%) medical doctors in
Tanzania are not practising clinical medicine. Also, only 964 out of the
same total figure (equivalent to 42.9%) of graduate doctors were working
full time in hospitals. Others were pursuing further studies, work in NGOs,
health or non- health related institutions or were suspended.
This was revealed in a study conducted by Sikika in collaboration with The
Medical Association of Tanzania (MAT) between August and October 2012 of
which a total of 2,246 graduate doctors were tracked.
The study highlights that among the tracked doctors, almost half of them
were from Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya and Moshi. Dar es Salaam alone
accounted for a total of 725 of the tracked graduate medical doctors.
The study also revealed that, nearly a half of the 2003 graduates (48 out
of 107) were not practicing clinical medicine; while 68 out of 102
(equivalent to two out of three) of 2004, more than three quarters (176 out
of 224) of 2008 graduates and 155 out of 206 of 2009 graduates were
practicing clinical medicine.
However, about 246 out of 290 (equivalent to 85%) of tracked medical
doctors who earned their degrees in 2011 were not practising clinical
medicine while almost all the 2012 graduates (96 out of 101) were
practising medicine.
According to WHO and MoHSW, Tanzania has about 1:30,000 doctor to
population ratio. This ratio has not significantly improved in the past
five years due to increased population.
Based on the findings of the study, Sikika and MAT recommend that the
Tanzanian government needs to attract and retain an adequate and qualified
health workforce in the country’s hospitals.
There is a need for new systems, rules and regulations to influence doctors
in other jobs/careers to devote some time to clinical healthcare delivery
in order to reduce the workload of those working full time in hospitals.
Since majority of doctors reside in major towns, there is a need for
improved infrastructure for transportation in rural areas and create a
better referral system that will make it easier for people to access
quality services.
Furthermore, a research should be conducted to find out the factors that
cause a high number of graduate medical doctors to abandon clinical medical
practice in hospitals.
Due to limited availability of records, an information system should be
established to inform the whereabouts of medical doctors and other
healthcare workers and their clinical practice status right from the point
of their graduation.
Muchoki, Anthony John
www.pamoma.com