Ethiopian doctors to Strike Again Amidst Unresolved Grievances and Government Crackdown
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian health professionals are preparing to resume strike action, escalating a dispute over low pay, worsening economic conditions, and a government response critics say has prioritized suppression over dialog. The renewed action comes despite recent, limited concessions from the government and amid concerns over the safety of journalists reporting on the planned work stoppage.
The strike, initially launched earlier this year, centers on demands for improved compensation for medical staff, many of whom earn less than US$100 per month, notably as Ethiopia grapples with rising inflation and a deepening cost of living crisis.The economic pressures are impacting all ethiopians, making even basic necessities unaffordable.
The government’s initial response to the protests was not conciliatory. authorities detained dozens of striking doctors, and Dr. Daniel Fentaneh, a prominent figure in the movement, was arrested in July and charged with “inciting, mobilizing, and organizing a strike,” allegedly resulting in the loss of human life. He was held for 27 days before being released on bail. The Ethiopian Health professionals Association (EHPA), which endorsed the workers’ demands, was also suspended.
While the Ministry of Health recently issued instructions in late August to regional and city administrations to establish free healthcare clinics for medical professionals and their families, and to provide transport for health workers during working hours, health professionals remain skeptical. Discussions regarding salary increases and overtime benefits are reportedly forthcoming, according to EHPM’s Facebook page.
adding to the tension, three journalists from Sheger FM, a popular private station, where detained after broadcasting a report about the upcoming strike. Two remain in custody and face potential terrorism charges.
As the strike nears, the government faces an opportunity to address the ongoing crisis within Ethiopia’s healthcare system and the long-standing concerns of its medical workforce.the situation highlights the challenges facing Ethiopia’s healthcare sector, exacerbated by economic hardship and a perceived lack of government responsiveness to the needs of its professionals.
