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Research Paper | Social Science | Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026 | Pages: 1808 - 1816 | Somalia
Reforming Medical Education in Somalia: Historical Evolution, Quality Challenges, and Strategic Pathways for Accreditation and Internship Reform
Abstract: Medical education is crucial for enhancing healthcare systems, particularly in fragile and post-conflict nations like Somalia, where competent health professionals are vital for rebuilding services. Decades of political instability and civil conflict have severely disrupted Somalia's healthcare infrastructure. Since the collapse of its central government in 1991, medical institutions and training programs have faced significant declines, leading to a shortage of qualified healthcare providers. Moreover, since the late 1990s, Somalia has seen a gradual revival of medical education through the establishment of private universities offering health science programs. However, this expansion has occurred without a cohesive national curriculum, standardized accreditation, or coordinated internship training, resulting in inconsistent educational standards and concerns about the preparedness of medical graduates. This paper investigates the historical evolution of medical education in Somalia and examines the structural challenges faced by training institutions. It highlights the urgent need for a national regulatory framework, proposing the creation of a Somali Medical Education Council to oversee accreditation, curriculum harmonization, and internship governance. Main policy priorities include strengthening teaching hospitals and clinical training infrastructure, which are essential for generating competent healthcare professionals capable of meeting Somalia's health needs and fostering long-term system resilience.
Keywords: Historical Evolution Medical Education, Somalia, Health Workforce Development, Quality Challenges, Accreditation system, Internship Reform, Healthcare System reform
How to Cite?: Mohamed Mohamoud Hassan, "Reforming Medical Education in Somalia: Historical Evolution, Quality Challenges, and Strategic Pathways for Accreditation and Internship Reform", Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1808-1816, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26317150735, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26317150735