Medical Social Work Practice in Tanzania: A Critical Review of the Literature on Challenges and the Way Forward

Background: Medical social work is essential component of holistic healthcare addressing thepsychosocial, economic and environmental factors that influence health outcomes. However, inTanzania literature indicates that the practice remains underdeveloped and encounters structuraland professional challenges within the healthcare system.Methodology: This review employed a critical review of the existing literatures on medical socialwork practice in Tanzania. Sources included peer reviewed journal articles, policy documents,academic thesis and reports published between 2005-2025. Databases such as google scholar,PubMed, ResearchGate, academic repositories and ProQuest central were searched using relevantkeywords. Data were analyzed thematically to identify recurring challenges and proposed wayforward for improvements.Results: The review identified several challenges affecting medical social work practice inTanzania. These include excessive caseloads and understaffing of medical social workers, poorprofessional recognition in medical settings, limited financial resources, inadequate medical socialwork specialized training in the country, absence of national level standardized guidelines andabsence of defined organizational hierarchy and reporting protocols across the country. Despitethese challenges, the literatures highlighted the way forward for enhancing and strengthening thepractice through policy and regulatory reforms, education and capacity buildings, clearer roledefinition and enhanced multidisciplinary collaboration.Conclusion: The review concludes that addressing these challenges will enhance patient centeredcare and contribute to improved healthcare outcomes within the Tanzanian healthcare systems.