At least three medical doctors have been arrested in Ethiopia amid a 10-day ultimatum the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association has given to the government, demanding fair compensation.
Wednesday’s arrest came as thousands of medical professionals working in state-run hospitals across the country continue taking a rare and increasingly bold stance, calling for immediate government response to their long-standing grievances.
Eyewitnesses confirmed to APA that three general practitioners from Agaro General Hospital in the country’s Oromia regional state namely Dr. Alazar Kebede, Dr. Adamu Damtew, and Dr. Geda Sh. Hussen were arrested by police after sharing photos in support of the ongoing protest.
In a statement released Tuesday, the association underscored that doctors’ questions are “legitimate and urgent,” and that the government should respond before the issue escalates into a nationwide health emergency.
“Health professionals have raised these demands multiple times through legal channels, including communications with the Ministry of Health,” EHPA said.
“Yet no timely or appropriate responses have been provided. As a result, health professionals are now expressing their voices through other means,” it said.
The ministry of health has acknowledged the protests and stated it is working on solutions. Public Relations and Health Communication Director Dr. Tagene Regasa told local media that the ministry is drafting “short, medium, and long-term plans to address the professionals’ concerns,” including non-salary incentives for healthcare workers.
However, many in the medical community remain skeptical, citing years of unfulfilled promises and minimal engagement.
“Ethiopia’s healthcare system is already strained by under-funding, brain drain, and ongoing humanitarian challenges, including conflict-related displacement and frequent disease outbreaks.
In a letter seen by APA on Tuesday, the association outlined 12 demands and warned that legal action will follow if the government fails to respond by 11 May.
The gravity of the situation is compounded by Ethiopia’s severe shortage of healthcare workers. According to the World Health Organization, Ethiopia has approximately 0.76 physicians per 10,000 people — far below the WHO’s recommended threshold of 1 per 1,000. This means one doctor may be responsible for over 13,000 patients, a staggering and unsustainable ratio in any healthcare setting.
The Ethiopian Health Professionals Association recently gave a 10-day ultimatum to the Ministry of Health, demanding urgent reform, fair compensation, and dignified working conditions for the health professionals across the east African country.
The ongoing campaign, which has also resonated widely across the country through various social media, is serving as a digital rallying cry for a profession that has endured years of economic hardship and neglect.
MG/as/APA