Ethiopia to increase number of hospitals to 800

 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (WIC) – Efforts are underway to increase the number of hospitals in the country to 800 to further improve the health service delivery by the end of the GTP period, the Ministry of Health said.

Ministry Public Relations Directorate Director, Ahmed Imano, told WIC that efforts are underway to make Ethiopia a medical tourism destination by improving the health service delivery, thus enabling the country to earn foreign currency earnings.

Currently, there are 3, 245 health stations, 16,048 health posts and 229 referral hospitals across the country, according to Ahmed.

In order to attain the target, the construction of 175 hospitals is underway in SNNP, Oromia, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz and Afar regional states as well as Dire Dawa administration, he said.

Four hospitals have already gone operational last fiscal year.  The hospitals are expected to give health care service for up to 1.5 million people when they are completed, he said.

He further said the government has attached due attention to alleviate skilled manpower in the health sector.