Health training institutions have been urged to give greater emphasis to ethics and discipline alongside professional skills to produce health workers capable of delivering quality care with compassion and accountability.
Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Florence Samizi, said technical knowledge alone could not guarantee quality healthcare, arguing that health workers must also understand the importance of treating patients with dignity and humanity.
Dr Samizi made the remarks on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during a visit to health training institutions in Kibondo District, Kigoma Region, where she inspected teaching facilities and assessed the state of infrastructure.
She said students should be trained to combine professional competence with discipline, compassion, patriotism and a sense of responsibility before entering the health workforce.
“Professional education alone is not enough. Students must also be nurtured in good morals, discipline, compassion and patriotism so that, after graduation, they can serve citizens with both professionalism and humanity,” she said.
The emphasis on ethics comes as health training institutions continue to prepare the workforce needed to meet growing demand for healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.
During the visit, Dr Samizi inspected construction of hostels at the Nursing College in Kibondo and directed the contractor to accelerate the project to ensure it is completed on schedule.
She said improved accommodation would provide students with a better environment for both learning and living, potentially supporting their academic performance and overall training experience.
Dr Samizi later visited Kibondo District Hospital and a health centre, where she inspected service delivery and interacted with mothers who had recently given birth.
She congratulated the mothers on their safe deliveries and presented them with gifts as a gesture of encouragement.
The Deputy Minister also used the visit to encourage Kibondo residents to enrol in the Universal Health Coverage insurance system, saying health insurance could help households manage the cost of treatment and avoid financial difficulties when illness occurs.
She urged residents to take advantage of Government initiatives in the health sector and called for continued cooperation between communities and healthcare providers to improve the quality and accessibility of services.