Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that the government is making significant strides in revitalizing the health sector by expanding health infrastructure and boosting the production of human resources.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Prime Minister emphasized during discussions with health professionals that a policy has been established to enhance efficient health services within private health institutions. Over recent years, more than 6,000 health facilities have been constructed, renovated, or expanded, showcasing the government’s commitment to improving healthcare access.
The Prime Minister highlighted the collaborative efforts with the private sector to maintain clean and comfortable work environments, urging health sector authorities to continue these initiatives. Despite the existence of 22,000 public health institutions, which require further improvements, substantial progress in renovations and expansions has been reported. Additionally, private health institutions have increased from 15,000 to 28,000 since the reform.
Prime Minister Abiy noted the relentless efforts in developing human resources, with the number of health professionals in government institutions increasing from 219,000 to 520,000. In private health institutions, this figure has grown from 30,000 to 120,000. The number of medical universities in the country has also risen from seven to 22.
Advancements in local pharmaceuticals and medical equipment industries have seen growth from 8 to 41 percent. Oxygen production facilities have expanded from three during the COVID-19 period to 58 nationwide. Furthermore, 28 laboratories have been established, enhancing the capacity to identify pre-epidemic situations, supported by Africa CDC headquartered in the country.
Prime Minister Abiy underscored the digitization of the health sector as an essential step in meeting contemporary demands.