I am writing this message to express my disappointment with the current method of selecting candidates for different fellowship programs in Ethiopia.
Although fellowship applicants are required to take the National Graduate Admission Test (NGAT) or Graduate Admission Test (GAT) and achieve a passing score, in reality this has no influence on whether or not they are accepted into fellowship programs as the ultimate and decisive power of applicants selection is entirely in the hands of each department within institutions, and this approach has become highly problematic.
Key Issues Identified
- Candidates are often chosen based on friendship, or favoritism rather than merit and competence.
- Some senior staff at department level deliberately exclude candidates because of baseless hate, personal grudges or subjective dislikes, rather than any academic or professional justification.
- The absence of national standards has created inconsistency across institutions, leading to unfair exclusion of many competent and motivated doctors.
- This practice discourages young doctors, lowers morale, and undermines trust in the fairness of the health education system.
Consequences if This Continues
- Meritocracy will be eroded, and fellowship opportunities will no longer be based on competence.
- The quality of subspecialist trained in Ethiopia will decline, ultimately weakening healthcare delivery.
- Many young, talented doctors may seek opportunities elsewhere or lose motivation, worsening the shortage of skilled subspecialist.
- Trust in medical institutions and training programs will deteriorate.
Recommendations for Improvement
- Introduce a national fellowship entrance or matching examination similar to Ethiopian Residency Matching Program (ERMP) so that all candidates will be objectively evaluated.
- Develop transparent scoring criteria (academic performance, clinical skills, research, professionalism) to guide selection.
- Form independent national selection committees composed of representatives from different institutions and professional associations, reducing departmental bias.
- Establish monitoring and accountability mechanisms to prevent abuse of power or exclusion based on personal reasons.
Such reforms are necessary to restore fairness, ensure equal opportunity, and strengthen Ethiopia’s healthcare system by training the most competent subspecialists.
I strongly urge all concerned bodies to take urgent action on this matter.
Dr. Habtamu Awlew
MD, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
@HakimEthio
