In recent years, the Rwandan government has significantly intensified efforts to improve healthcare services within the country. A key focus has been on strengthening hospitals to provide high-level care, ensuring that diseases previously requiring treatment abroad, such as cancer and kidney ailments, can now be treated within Rwanda.
Dr. Menelas Nkeshimana, Head of the Department of Health Workforce Development at the Ministry of Health, explained the strategy in an interview with IGIHE.
He emphasized that many medical programs previously necessitating foreign study are now available in Rwanda, allowing for comprehensive domestic training.
"Many programs that used to require students to study abroad are now available in Rwanda. We have the capacity to provide domestic training," Dr. Nkeshimana stated.
"However, for collaborative purposes, there are still instances where foreign countries offer opportunities to train our students. For example, we have doctors training to become specialists in various fields here in Rwanda. For those we cannot accommodate, some countries take them on for training."
Dr. Nkeshimana highlighted that the government is reducing the number of students sent abroad due to the issue of non-returning students.
"We sent some students to Canada, and they all stayed there. There are others from the University of Rwanda who were supposed to return and lead different medical departments but chose not to come back. This dishonesty is why we support domestic education, as they may face temptations while studying abroad."
Efforts are also being made to enhance the capacity of various hospitals to become teaching hospitals, providing places for doctors to gain practical experience.
"The resources invested in those who study abroad can be used to train them here, yielding more benefits," Dr. Nkeshimana noted. "We are building hospitals that will also serve as teaching hospitals, which significantly improves service delivery."
Rwanda aims to increase the number of graduates from medical, nursing, and midwifery schools from 2,000 to 8,000 annually. This ambitious goal ensures a steady supply of well-trained healthcare professionals to meet the country's needs, reinforcing Rwanda's commitment to improving its healthcare system and retaining its homegrown medical talent.
IGIHE
