Days of wildcat strikes by medical practitioners have paralysed Ethiopia’s already struggling health sector.
The down-tools have been so crippling that the Ethiopian government has resorted to switching from cajoling to threatening to enforce a law which prohibits such actions.
It warns that those healthcare professionals participating in the national strike will face criminal charges, cautioning that “strikes in the health sector are legally prohibited.”
It cautions that “healthcare is one of the social services that should never be interrupted under any circumstances.”
Health personnel have not been present at their regular workstations and this has been affecting the delivering of medical services nationwide, prompting the ministry to warn that the government’s patience in resolving the issue with an open mind is wearing thin.
Already Amnesty International has condemned what it describes as a crackdown on striking healthcare workers some of whom are being “arbitrarily” rounded and detained by security forces across multiple regions in Ethiopia.
The strike, which entered its third day on Thursday, began as a peaceful, partial protest but has grown into a movement demanding improved wages and better working conditions.
It followed weeks of online mobilisation under hashtags like #HealthWorkersMatter and #PayHealthWorkersFairly, and coordinated pre-strike protests in several hospitals, including Tibebe Ghion Comprehensive Specialised Hospital.
Several hospitals and health centers across Ethiopia have suspended services.
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.
All outpatient departments of major hospitals remain closed, health officials said, noting that only “adult and pediatric emergency, ICU, NICU and PICU, OB GYN emergency, and the labour ward” have been operational.
Observers say even those exceptions could be touched by the strike if it continues for another couple of days.
Health workers confirmed on condition of anonymity that security forces have detained several doctors some of whose whereabouts are unknown.
A 10-day ultimatum by Ethiopian health workers had been given to the government, demanding fair pay, improved benefits, and risk compensation which have not been addressed.
Critics said 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.
Many of the workers complain that their take-home pay cannot cope with the galloping price of basic commodities.
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