The Role of Recruitment Practices in Enhancing Institutional Development in the Health Sector: A Case of Bugando Medical Center, Tanzania

This study examined the role of recruitment practices in enhancing institutional development in the health sector, focusing on Bugando Medical Center (BMC) in Mwanza, Tanzania. The study was guided by three specific objectives: (i) to assess the effectiveness of recruitment practices in attracting and selecting qualified healthcare professionals, (ii) to examine the relationship between selection procedures and institutional performance, and (iii) to analyze the effect of timeliness and policy compliance in recruitment on institutional development. The study adopted a mixed research approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative techniques under a pragmatic research philosophy. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, involving a sample of 152 respondents selected through stratified random and purposive sampling techniques. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25, while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically. The study achieved a 92% response rate, and the instrument reliability was confirmed by a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.80, indicating acceptable internal consistency. Descriptive results showed that recruitment practices at BMC were largely transparent, fair, and guided by policy, though occasionally constrained by bureaucratic delays. Correlation analysis revealed strong and positive relationships between attraction strategies (r = 0.684), selection procedures (r = 0.712), and timeliness and policy compliance (r = 0.655) with institutional development, all significant at the 0.01 level. Regression results indicated that recruitment practices jointly explained 56% (R² = 0.56) of the variation in institutional development, with selection procedures (β = 0.312) emerging as the strongest predictor. Qualitative findings reinforced the statistical results, highlighting that while BMC adheres to merit-based recruitment processes, limited recruitment autonomy and delays in approval from higher authorities affect staffing timeliness. The study contributes new empirical evidence on recruitment practices and institutional development in Tanzania’s health sector and suggests that further research be conducted across multiple hospitals to enhance generalizability.