There is need for East African countries to increase health studies in secondary schools if the demand in the medical profession is to be addressed in the near future.

The call was made, Friday, during a regional meeting that drew participants mainly from the private healthcare sector, including doctors, pharmaceutical companies, investors, financiers, suppliers and academia.

In his address, Dr. Innocent Nyirinkwaya, who operates La Croix du Sud hospital in Kigali, said that efforts should be made to encourage students to take up science courses.

"The demand for health workers, especially doctors, remains high not only in Rwanda but in the region,,” Nyirinkwaya said.

The two-day meeting organized by SADIKI East Africa, brings together private healthcare service providers to share experience and challenges so as to improve their services.

It also enables the creation of regional networks as well as discussing measures health workers can use in providing quality services using ICT, among others.

The acting head of Uganda Health Care Federation, Passy Tumwesigge, told The Sunday Times that there is need for respective governments to support private health care providers.

"The most challenging issue faced by private medical players is buying equipment which are expensive but very vital in the medical practice,” Tumwesigge said.

She noted that there should be combined efforts in both private and public healthcare for the health sector to grow and serve effectively.

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