Several hospitals and health centers across Ethiopia have suspended services as a nationwide strike by health professionals entered its third day, APA reported on Thursday.
Almost all major hospitals including Black Lion, St. Paul, Yekatit 12, Alert Comprehensive and Zewditu memorial hospitals have ceased services since Tuesday, jeopardising health services across the East African country except for emergency and critical conditions.
The strike came after the end of a 10-day ultimatum the Ethiopian health professionals had given to the government, demanding fair pay, improved benefits, and risk compensation.
Critics said the federal government resorted to intimidation, detention and several doctors and other medical professionals in different parts of the country have been arrested.
The living conditions of health professionals in Ethiopia have deteriorated further after the government devalued the local currency by more than 100 percent since July 2024 – apparently due to pressure from the IMF and World Bank as a precondition for Extended Credit Facility approval.
All outpatient departments are closed, health officials said, noting that only “adult and pediatric emergency, ICU, NICU and PICU, OB GYN emergency, and the labour ward” remain operational.
Health workers confirmed on condition of anonymity that security forces have detained several doctors some of whose whereabouts are unknown.
There are also reports that teachers are intent on joining the strike and the government is trying to avert it by appeasing teachers with the possibility of land appropriation – particularly in the Oromia region of Ethiopia.
MG/as/APA