African Health Leaders Praise Ethiopia’s Health Reforms

Addis Ababa, August 25, 2026 (ENA) — African healthcare leaders have praised Ethiopia’s health reforms, citing its public-private partnerships, pharmaceutical manufacturing and growing healthcare capacity as lessons for Africa.

In exclusive interviews with ENA, Dr Danny Mutembe, Vice Chair of the Rwanda Healthcare Federation, said Ethiopia is demonstrating a strong commitment to improving healthcare through cooperation between the government and the private sector.

“What is really critical is to see how private actors are supported in providing healthcare,” Mutembe said, describing the partnership as “paramount” to strengthening the health system.

He said Ethiopia’s progress, including the development of its healthcare institutions and regulatory capacity, offers lessons for other African countries, highlighting the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority as an example to emulate.

Mutembe also said Ethiopia’s growing medical capacity could help reduce Africa’s dependence on treatment outside the continent.

“Within the continent, we can actually learn from each other,” he said, calling for stronger cooperation among hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other health-sector actors to expand access to treatment within Africa and reduce the cost of medical travel.

He further urged African countries to strengthen health cooperation and build greater self-reliance, saying the COVID-19 pandemic showed the risks of depending on external systems.

“Today we have Ebola in eastern DRC. Tomorrow we’ll have another pandemic or epidemic,” Mutembe said, calling for stronger public-private collaboration across the continent.

Dr Emmanuel Galla Lado, representing South Sudan’s private health sector, described Ethiopia’s health-sector progress as “incredible” and said the country is advancing rapidly.

“Strength, resilience and energy,” Galla Lado said when asked what other African countries could learn from Ethiopia. “We need a lot to catch up to Ethiopia.”

He also highlighted Ethiopia’s progress in pharmaceutical manufacturing, saying its growing capacity could benefit neighboring countries and help reduce the burden of traveling far for medical treatment.

“For me, as a South Sudanese, I consider Ethiopia my second home,” he said.

Galla Lado urged African countries to follow Ethiopia’s example and strengthen cross-border health cooperation.

“I think Ethiopia is setting a very good example for all of us,” he said. “We need to cross borders, we need to help each other, and we need to grow together as nations.”