Radiology practice in Ethiopia, Africa and things to consider in the future.

I recently reflected on a significant issue in the field of radiology that I've encountered during my career. One of the main challenges we face is the outnumbered radiology workflow ratio, which is a problem not just in our country but worldwide. The increasing demand for imaging services cannot be matched by the current capacity of radiology departments. In Ethiopia, companies in tech and biomedical engineering have primarily imported and advanced MRI and CT technology ahead of old public institutions like AAU, Black Lion, or other radiology schools. This has contributed to a perception that radiologists are merely individuals who interpret images, rather than highly trained medical doctors and experts. This misconception undermines the critical role that radiologists play in patient care, often positioning us as less integral than managing clinicians, despite our ability to significantly enhance patient outcomes. This mindset has harmed the reputation of radiologists and has implications for our profession as a whole. It is essential that we, as radiologists with a passion for technology, actively participate in the AI revolution and advancements in diagnostics. We need to prioritize clinical, patient-centered supervision of diagnostic and imaging services in Ethiopia. By embracing technology and promoting our expertise, we can reshape the narrative around our role in healthcare and ensure that radiologists are recognized for the vital contributions we make to patient care of course working hand in hand with engineering companies. The Radiologists with tech people, and engineers shall continuously research to enhance the Radiology and diagnostics specialty together #AfroCXR #Radiology #AI #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCare #Ethiopia