Medical Radiologic Technology Education in Ethiopia: Implications for the Development of Postgraduate Programs

Abstract

Radiological imaging has become an essential tool in disease diagnosis, treatment and management. Medical imaging professionals were crucial in providing radiological imaging services in healthcare facilities. Training these professionals requires a rigorous program at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Radiologic technology education has progressed to the level of doctoral philosophy (PhD) in many countries. Despite the fact that the number of universities offering undergraduate radiology technology programs in Ethiopia has increased in the last five years, there is currently no recognized institution offering a well-established postgraduate radiology technology program. Due to the lack of established postgraduate training opportunities, graduates were forced to leave the profession, which posed problems for the health care system. The purpose of this study was to explore medical radiology technology education in Ethiopia and the challenges and future prospects of postgraduate education in the field. A descriptive qualitative research method was used in the study. Secondary document reviews and semi-structured interviews with five key informants were conducted. The interviews were held between February 16 and February 22, 2022. The study identified the historical foundations of Ethiopian radiology technology education, the quest for graduate programs and the role of radiology technologists in healthcare services. There is a great need for postgraduate education in radiology technology in Ethiopia. Graduates must continue to enjoy their professional development while remaining in the sector and providing quality health care services in medical imaging. Collaboration between stakeholders and higher education institutions is necessary to meet the continuing education needs of health professionals.