Among the lowest-paid medics in East Africa, Ethiopia’s doctors face state crackdown in strike for better working conditions

• Arrests during strikes:

  • Doctors protesting low pay and poor conditions were arrested in Addis Ababa and across Ethiopia.

  • More than 140 doctors detained in May and June 2025; all later released.

  • Police justified arrests by calling the strike “illegal” and accusing doctors of endangering patients.

• Doctors’ demands:

  • Presented a 12-point list including fair salaries, health insurance, transport support, and workplace improvements.

  • Strike organized by the Ethiopian Health Professionals Movement (EHPM), formed in 2019.

  • EHPM created Health Voice Ethiopia website to document arrests and monitor progress.

• Working and living conditions:

  • Ethiopian doctors earn as little as $60–$73 per month, compared to $1,800 in Kenya.

  • Many struggle to pay rent, afford food, transport, or healthcare.

  • Some resort to side jobs like pharmacy work, Uber driving, or content creation.

  • Shifts can last up to 30 hours; hospitals are understaffed and under-equipped.

• Economic pressures:

  • Inflation and currency depreciation have eroded already low salaries.

  • Ethiopian birr fell to a record 174 per US dollar on black markets in July 2025.

  • Broader economic strain from COVID-19 and the Tigray war, with losses projected at nearly $125 billion by 2027.

• Historical context:

  • Early 2000s: Ethiopia expanded medical schools to address doctor shortages, boosting numbers by 851% in a decade.

  • However, salaries never rose to competitive levels, leaving doctors underpaid despite increased workforce.

• Government stance:

  • PM Abiy Ahmed acknowledged doctors are “being crushed by life” but accused striking doctors of being “political opportunists.”

  • Government accused them of prioritizing salaries over national service.

  • Meeting with selected health workers in June combined recognition of concerns with criticism of strikes.

• Rights groups’ response:

  • Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International condemned arrests, calling for unconditional releases and constructive dialogue.

• Doctors’ frustrations:

  • Many consider leaving medicine or migrating abroad.

  • Some already left, including organizers who fled to the US.

  • One doctor noted a truck driver earns three times more than he does.

  • Many feel unrewarded despite long training and sacrifices.

• Healthcare funding issues:

  • Ethiopia allocated 8.3% of its budget to healthcare in 2023–24, below the 15% Abuja Declaration target.

  • Inflation and weak birr reduced the real value of that allocation.

  • Recruitment and retention of staff remain major challenges.

• Impact on morale:

  • Arrests of prominent leaders, like Daniel Fentaneh, deeply discouraged colleagues.

  • Doctors say harassment, belittlement, and imprisonment of professionals erode morale.

• Future outlook:

  • Doctors await government follow-through on promises.

  • EHPM warns strikes may resume if no meaningful progress is made.

  • Health Voice Ethiopia website tracks time until the next possible strike deadline.