The Training and Practice of Radiology in Ethiopia: Challenges and prospect
Documented evidence to practice of Radiology in Ethiopia dates back to the early eighties. It all began with the use of conventional radiography and non-Ethiopians practicing under the department of internal medicine of AAUMF. After maturing into level of a department, Radiology residency training was then initiated in 1987 and AAUMF remained to be the only institution to provide residency program in the field till 2014. Then on multiple colleges have started residency training programs in radiology and that has not only greatly reduced the burden imposed on AAU but also provided some input in solving the problem of shortage of radiology professionals. Contributions in terms of improving quality of residency training and also of the practice of radiology is unquestionable.Currently there are around 28 public medical schools and colleges in Ethiopia which train medicine to the level of medical doctorate degree. In addition, there are three teaching hospitals training professionals with medical or related background to the MD level. Of these colleges, schools and hospitals, only five provide residency training in Radiology. Till date there are around 350 radiologists in Ethiopia that is around 1 radiologist to 350,000 population. The seriousness of shortage of radiologists can be noted when this number is compared to the data in some other African countries like Egypt 1:20,000 and global figures like India 1:100,000, Europe 1:7,700, USA 1:6,700 and Cuba 1:4,500 (1).Diagnostic and interventional radiology has increasingly become an integral part of patient care due to the expanding practice of evidence-based medicine and choice of minimally invasive treatment means to various diseases as well as rapid advancement in the technology of imaging. Having well trained professionals in the field, hence, is a necessity to any health system and has made radiology one of the most sought after specialties in medicine (2). The situation in our country is no different and in fact of higher magnitude. As was noted in the data of the national residency matching examination results, joining radiology residency program in the few (<60) positions was highly competitive and required top scoring in the national matching examination. The challenge in the radiology residency training, hence, starts at the matching process, form the small number of available positions to one of the most sought after specialties. Shortage of skilled professionals and technology in the field are the main constraints in the expansion and thus, capacity building in radiology residency training sites is mandatory so as to increase the number of available trainee positions, and use of tele-radiology and tele-education as a means to fill the professional gaps in these sites as well as in starting new training facilities. Facilities with higher resource profiles can be used as hubs while those with shortages as spokes in the tele-radiology tele-education system.