Tanzania’s healthcare system is crippled by over 52% health worker shortage
The new directive faces doubts about its practicality.
Minister aims to fix a long-standing problem, but needs systemic reforms: experts
The newly appointed Minister for Health, Ms Jenista Mhagama, has hit the ground running with a directive requiring all public hospitals and health centres to ensure outpatients receive medical care within three hours of their arrival.
The move seeks to address long waiting time in health care facilities, a longstanding problem in Tanzania, which researchers have previously attributed to increased demand, shortage of medical staff and an underdeveloped health care system.
“Hospitals must adhere to a service cycle that ensures patients are attended to within three hours, from registration to consultation, treatment”
Minister of Health Ms. Jenista Mhagama
She stressed that patients should not have to worry about spending an entire day at a health facility and disrupt their daily activities.
This directive comes at a critical time as the government’s prepares to implement the ambitious universal health insurance plan, which requires that the healthcare system must be equipped to deliver timely and effective care to all citizens.
However, the success of the insurance plan hinges on the quality of care provided. Studies done in Tanzania have shown that if patients are unable to receive timely and effective treatment, they may be reluctant to subscribe to such programs.
The directive also comes amidst a backdrop of significant shortages in healthcare workers with the government reporting over 52% shortfall in the health sector. This shortage has placed a heavy burden on public hospitals, leading to overcrowding and long waiting times. It’s questionable if the directive is practical for the health facilities.
At Mwananyamala Regional Referral Hospital in Dar es Salaam, for instance, researchers have carried out a study and found that patients often waited for more than four hours to see a doctor, with some waiting for as long as eight hours. This excessive waiting time not only caused significant inconvenience to patients but also had negative implications for their health outcomes.
In their findings, published in Tanzania Journal of Population Studies and Development, the researchers emphasized the need for improved resource allocation and efficiency in outpatient departments to enhance patient satisfaction and outcomes.
The results, although published in 2020, are representative of the broader challenges facing Tanzania’s healthcare system, with Mwananyamala Hospital being a specific example.
The Minister’s recent visit to the Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital could serve as a catalyst for exposing the broader challenges facing Tanzania’s healthcare system. While the directive may be well-intentioned, experts warn that it could trigger a flood of complaints from patients who have long endured long waiting times and poor-quality healthcare services.
Mh. Mhagama, agizo lako ni jema sana, lkn ungekipa siku 3tu, ukiwa hapo general hospital, utatunza hili agizo lako. Uhaba wa watoa Huduma wa afya, uhaba wa vifaa tiba, 'weak internet connection na hata vitengo vingine kukosa computer.
Ms Mhagama stressed the need to integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems into healthcare facilities. ICT can streamline medical processes, improve efficiency, and reduce patient complaints. By leveraging technology, healthcare providers can access patient records more easily and provide timely care.
In addition to improving efficiency and access to care, Minister Mhagama called on healthcare workers to maintain respectful communication with patients. Courteous interactions can significantly enhance patient comfort and recovery.
