MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS ASSOCIATION OF TANZANIA (MeLSAT)
P.O. Box 65094 | Email: melsattanzania@gmail.com
Dar es Salaam | Tel: +255 222 128 052
www.melsat.or.tz
June 20, 2025
ANNOUNCEMENT TO MEMBERS AND HEALTH LABORATORY PROFESSIONALS IN THE COUNTR
Dear Health Laboratory Professionals,
The Medical Laboratory Scientists Association of Tanzania (MeLSAT) wishes to inform its members and health laboratory professionals nationwide that it has been actively engaging with and monitoring various matters concerning the laboratory profession within government jurisdictions (Ministry of Health, President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government [TAMISEMI], and the Ministry of Public Service). We extend our gratitude to the government, particularly the Ministry of Health, TAMISEMI, and the Ministry of Public Service, for their cooperation in receiving and acting upon our input, with the aim of improving health laboratory services in the country.
Dear members, recently, challenges arose that raised many questions among members and health laboratory professionals. These challenges primarily concerned the employment structure and job opportunities for our laboratory cadre. The association has been addressing these issues through committees led by the Vice President, and the responses are as follows:
1. Regarding the employment structure for the laboratory cadre:
After an employment structure with deficiencies circulated online, the association formed a task force to follow up on the matter and presented the following concerns to the Ministry of Public Service:
- The absence of a higher diploma level in the structure.
- The starting grade for degree holders being Grade C instead of D.
The committee submitted these points and requested their inclusion in the employment structure. The Ministry accepted our proposals and pledged to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to address them.
2. Regarding the lack of job positions in the advertisement dated June 13, 2025:
The committee followed up on this issue with the Ministry of Public Service and Employment (Employment Secretariat). The Ministry responded as follows:
- According to employment regulations, job advertisements are only issued when there are no candidates in the database. This applies even to other cadres where positions have not been advertised.
- Many laboratory professionals who underwent interviews last year (over 3,000) are still in the database. Therefore, their positions cannot be advertised until the current candidates are exhausted or the database expires after one year.
- Employment permits for laboratory professionals are available, with over 1,000 positions. Professionals continue to be called and assigned jobs, and this process is ongoing. Only cadres with exhausted databases are advertised.
The association urges laboratory professionals to remain patient as the government addresses these challenges. We call on all members and professionals nationwide to continue supporting the association with unity and determination to advance our beloved profession of health laboratory services. Additionally, we encourage members and professionals to prepare early for participation in the upcoming conference and annual general meeting of the association, scheduled to take place in Mwanza in September 2025.
Finally, we request all members and professionals across the country to cooperate fully with our leaders to enable them to execute their duties effectively. We also remind you to raise concerns where necessary, with the goal of improving and fostering unity from the grassroots level.
Our unity is our strength.
Issued by:
Betrand Msemwa
Executive Secretary – MeLSAT
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