Chapter Seven - Health Policy and Challenges in Ethiopia

Summary

Introduction

This chapter examines the major health policy initiatives that the Federal Democratic Government of Ethiopia has taken to improve the nation's healthcare system for all citizens in the country. It also explores some of the major health and social challenges that the government is currently dealing with in the country. It argues that while the Government of Ethiopia is trying to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in respect of healthcare in the country, there is a need for the nation to seek more foreign aid to accomplish its benchmark. The chapter uses data derived from primary and secondary sources to analyze the health policy outcomes and challenges in Ethiopia. The findings show that a better health system in the country could galvanize the private and public sectors in addressing education, healthcare, public health programs, welfare, and economic and social development issues in the rural and urban regions of Ethiopia. In addition, the Ethiopian Government's health policies have not been able to effectively galvanize the private sector and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to create more health clinics and hospitals in the rural regions. There is widespread recognition that the Government of Ethiopia does not have infinite healthcare workers and financial resources to provide all the necessary equipment and medical resources needed to accomplish the nation's millennium health goals. This is because of its current unsustainable deficits and civil war. The chapter recommends that the government; private sector, foreign partners, and NGOs should collaborate to establish a mechanism for a better and more efficient approach to providing healthcare, public health prevention services, employment, public goods, and services for all Ethiopians. The chapter also suggests that appropriate monetary and fiscal policies that are necessary for Ethiopia to effectively address its sustainable development and capacity-building challenges should be formulated and effectively implemented.

Brief History of Ethiopia

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa. It also has one of the fastest-growing economies in the African continent. The nation is in the Northeastern Horn of Africa. The nation's population is approximately109.2 million (United Nations Human Development Report 2023).