Health professionals in Ethiopia are set to resume striking on September 15 to demand better wages and living conditions, marking the second major strike in recent months. The nationwide walkout in May, organized by the Ethiopian Health Professionals Movement (EHPM), halted nonemergency health services and highlighted grievances including fair salaries, improved working conditions, health insurance, and access to affordable housing and transport.
Ethiopian law places limits on the right to strike, and the government has shown little tolerance for protest or dissent. During the previous strike, authorities detained dozens of doctors, and Dr. Daniel Fentaneh, a prominent figure in the movement, was charged with inciting and organizing the strike and spent 27 days in detention before being released on bail. The government also suspended the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association (EHPA), which supported the workers’ demands.
Despite some measures by the government—such as instructions for free clinics and transport for medical staff—many issues remain unresolved. Salaries for Ethiopian medical professionals are extremely low, with some surgeons earning less than US$100 per month, and rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures have worsened the situation. Discussions on salary increases and overtime benefits are reportedly underway, but health professionals remain skeptical.
The risks for striking workers are significant. Ethiopian police recently detained journalists from Sheger FM after a broadcast about the upcoming strike, with two still in detention facing potential terrorism charges. As the strike approaches, the government faces an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to addressing the systemic crisis in the country’s health care system and the longstanding concerns of its medical professionals.
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