Ethiopia’s Health Workforce Development Initiative
In a significant move toward enhancing the health sector, Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and aided by the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a series of High‑Level Multisectoral Dialogues. These dialogues aim to align the country’s priorities, investments, and policies focused on health workforce development, backed by funding from the UK Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
First Dialogue: Addressing Workforce Competency
The inaugural dialogue, titled “Progress Toward a Competent, Responsive, and Equitably Distributed Health Workforce for UHC in Ethiopia,” drew senior policymakers, training and accreditation officials, global health partners, and leaders from multiple sectors, including health, education, and finance. The discussions centered around Ethiopia’s advancement regarding its Human Resources for Health (HRH) Strategic Plan for 2024 to 2030, emphasizing the country’s dedication to cultivating a capable health workforce that can deliver quality healthcare across all communities.
Achievements in Workforce Expansion
Ethiopia has made notable strides over the last decade in its health workforce expansion. This includes the scaling of health training institutions, improvements in licensure systems, and the institutionalization of community health workers through initiatives like the Health Extension Program and various health workforce investment agreements. These developments are foundational to building a robust healthcare system.
Remaining Challenges
Despite these advancements, Ethiopia still faces ongoing challenges within its health workforce. Issues such as discrepancies in workforce quality, unequal distribution, limited financial resources, and rapidly changing service delivery requirements continue to exert pressure on the healthcare system. These factors collectively hinder progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Call for Multisectoral Collaboration
The dialogue underscored that reaching UHC necessitates strategic multisectoral collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and enduring investment in health workforce development spanning the entire labor market cycle. This includes areas from education and training to employment, performance management, and retention.
Commitment to Action
H.E. Mrs. Seharela Abdulahi, State Minister of Health, emphasized the importance of these dialogues. She stated, “This dialogue is not an exercise — it is a commitment.” While acknowledging the progress made in expanding training and improving systems, she pointed out the significant gaps that still exist concerning workforce numbers, distribution, and overall performance. She stressed that addressing these issues requires enhanced health financing, coordinated leadership, and harmonized policies aimed at solidifying a culture of health workforce strengthening throughout the nation.
Objectives of the High-Level Dialogue
The High‑Level Multisectoral Dialogue on Health Workforce Investment had several key objectives:
- Review the current health workforce landscape in Ethiopia,
- Identify priority reforms needed for improvement,
- Strengthen collaboration among multiple sectors,
- Inform the expansion of the Health Workforce Investment Compact,
- Encourage political and financial commitments for ongoing workforce development.
Stakeholders shared reflections on their achievements while also identifying areas requiring further focus, such as improving employment pathways and enhancing workforce motivation and retention.
Strengthening Coordination Between Entities
A recurring theme during these discussions was the need for improved coordination among the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, and various regulatory and training institutions. The dialogue served as a platform for exploring how Ethiopia can operationalize its Health Workforce Investment Compact effectively, ensuring that future investments are based on solid evidence and aligned with national realities, ultimately fostering shared accountability.
Ongoing Support from WHO and Partners
Dr. Bejoy Nambiar, Health Systems and Policy Advisor at WHO Ethiopia, expressed the organization’s eagerness to support Ethiopia in this essential dialogue concerning Human Resources for Health. He noted that such discussions foster a collective understanding of the workforce context and the strategic actions necessary for fortifying workforce development, retention, and investment.
Future Dialogues: Focus on Financing Strategies
Ms. Susan De, Deputy Director of Health and Nutrition at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighted the complexity of the health workforce ecosystem, emphasizing the necessity for teamwork and cross-sector collaboration involving various ministries and stakeholders. The series of dialogues will continue with an emphasis on formulating concrete financing strategies to bolster sustainable workforce investments and collaboratively develop Ethiopia’s Health Workforce Investment Compact III.
A Unified Effort for a Resilient Health System
These dialogues represent a unified national effort to ensure that Ethiopia’s health workforce remains central to the initiative of building a resilient, equitable, and high-performing health system that serves all citizens effectively.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Ethiopia.
