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Review
. 2022 Jan 25;22(1):55.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03102-6.

Advances in training of the specialized human resources for health in Tanzania: the case of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Emmanuel Balandya  1 , Gimbo Hyuha  2 , Matilda Mtaya  2 , Joseph Otieno  2 , Bruno Sunguya  2 , Gasto Frumence  2 , Projestine Muganyizi  2 , Eligius Lyamuya  2 , David Urassa  2 , Appolinary Kamuhabwa  2 , Andrea Pembe  2
Affiliations
Review

Advances in training of the specialized human resources for health in Tanzania: the case of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Emmanuel Balandya et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Increasing the number of specialized human resources for health is paramount to attainment of the United Nations sustainable development goals. Higher learning institutions in low-and middle-income countries must address this necessity. Here, we describe the 5-years trends in accreditation of the clinical and non-clinical postgraduate (PG) programmes, student admission and graduation at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Tanzania, highlighting successes, challenges and opportunities for improvement.

Methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal study describing trends in PG training at MUHAS between 2015 and 2016 and 2019-2020. Major interventions in the reporting period included university-wide short course training programme to faculty on curricula development and initiation of online application system. Data were collected through a review of secondary data from various university records and was analyzed descriptively. Primary outcomes were the number of accredited PG programmes, number of PG applicants as well as proportions of applicants selected, applicants registered (enrolled) and students graduated, with a focus on gender and internationalization (students who are not from Tanzania).

Results: The number of PG programmes increased from 60 in 2015-2016 to 77 in 2019-2020, including programmes in rare fields such as cardiothoracic surgery, cardiothoracic anesthesia and critical care. The number of PG applications, selected applicants, registered applicants and PG students graduating at the university over the past five academic years had steadily increased by 79, 81, 50 and 79%, respectively. The average proportions of PG students who applied, were selected and registered as well as graduated at the university over the past five years by gender and internationalization has remained stably at 60% vs. 40% (male vs. female) and 90% vs. 10% (Tanzanian vs. international), respectively. In total, the university graduated 1348 specialized healthcare workers in the five years period, including 45 super-specialists in critical fields, through a steady increase from 200 graduates in 2015-2016 to 357 graduates in 2019-2020. Major challenges encountered include inadequate sponsorship, limited number of academic staff and limited physical infrastructure for teaching.

Conclusion: Despite challenges encountered, MUHAS has made significant advances over the past five years in training of specialized and super-specialized healthcare workforce by increasing the number of programmes, enrollment and graduates whilst maintaining a narrow gender gap and international relevance. MUHAS will continue to be the pillar in training of the specialized human resources for health and is thus poised to contribute to timely attainment of the health-related United Nations sustainable development goals in Tanzania and beyond, particularly within the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

Keywords: Health; Postgraduate; Specialised; Super-specialised; Tanzania; Training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Trends in Postgraduate Programmes at MUHAS, 2015-2016 to 2019-2020. SOM = School of Medicine, SPHSS = School of Public Health and Social Sciences, SOP = School of Pharmacy, SOD = School of Dentistry, SON = School of Nursing, ITM = Institute of Traditional Medicine
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Trends in Postgraduate Admission 2015-2016 to 2019-2020. A Depicts trends in number of students applying, selected and registering for postgraduate programmes between academic year 2015-2016 and 2019-2020. B Depicts proportions of postgraduate applicants selected and registered at the university between academic year 2015-2016 and 2019-2020. C and D Depict the average proportions of male and female students (C) as well as Tanzanian and international students (D) who applied, were selected and registered for postgraduate programmes in the five academic years 2015-2016 to 2019-2020. Each data point in (C and D) represents average proportion of males or females (C) as well as Tanzanian or international students (D) who applied, were selected and registered in an individual academic year, with the proportions of males and females or Tanzanian and international students in each academic year adding to 100% for each category (applied, selected, registered). Error bars in (C and D) depict standard deviation
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Trends in PG graduation 2015-2016 to 2019-2020. A Depicts number of graduating students (overall and by Schools) in academic year 2015-2016 to 2016-2020. B Depicts the average proportions of students graduating by gender (males and females) and internationalization (Tanzanian and international) in the five academic years 2015-2016 to 2019-2020. Each data point in (B) represents average proportion of graduating students (males and females, as well as Tanzanian and international) in an individual academic year, with the proportions of males and females (and similarly Tanzanian and international students) adding to 100% for each academic year. SOM = School of Medicine, SPHSS = School of Public Health and Social Sciences, SOP = School of Pharmacy, SOD = School of Dentistry, SON = School of Nursing, ITM = Institute of Traditional Medicine, M = Male, F = Female, TZ = Tanzanian, Int = International. Error bars in (B) depict standard deviation
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