By The Arusha News Reporter
Despite significant investments in health infrastructure and equipment, hundreds of qualified doctors in Tanzania remain unemployed each year, raising serious concerns about the growing mismatch between medical training and employment opportunities in the sector.
President of the Medical Association of Tanzania (MAT), Dr Mugisha Nkoronko, noted that while the country produces over 1,500 new doctors annually, fewer than 200 secure jobs through public recruitment channels.
“The private sector also has limited capacity to absorb them,” he told Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, during MAT’s 60th Anniversary workshop in Arusha recently.
Dr Nkoronko urged the government and stakeholders to urgently address the employment gap in the health sector, warning that failure to do so risks undermining the country’s ability to fully leverage its growing healthcare infrastructure.
In his opening remarks, Premier Majaliwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bringing healthcare services closer to the people. He cited the increase in health centres from 8,549 in 2021 to 12,846 today — enabling 80 per cent of the population to access services within a five-kilometre radius. The government aims to raise that coverage to 95 per cent by 2030.
The Prime Minister also pointed to substantial investments in diagnostic equipment, including an increase in MRI machines from 7 to 13, CT scanners from 12 to 45, ultrasound machines from 476 to 970 and digital X-ray machines from 147 to 491. A PET CT-Scan worth 18.5 billion shillings has also been acquired to enhance cancer care services.
Founded in 1965 with just 26 members, MAT now has over 4,000 members — many of whom continue to struggle to find meaningful employment despite their qualifications.
