Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Ethiopian authorities to engage meaningfully with public healthcare workers’ demands following a violent crackdown on protests. The rights group documented arrests, intimidation, and excessive force against medical staff protesting poor working conditions and unpaid wages.
In a statement issued on June 25, 2025, HRW emphasized that “suppressing dissent instead of addressing systemic healthcare failures exacerbates Ethiopia’s ongoing public health crisis.”
The Rights group statement criticizes the government’s suspension of the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association (EHPA) in early June 2025 after healthcare workers staged strikes demanding better pay and working conditions.
Authorities detained dozens of workers, including the president of the EHPA, and others without charge, according to the statement.
“During the work stoppages, the authorities arbitrarily detained dozens of public healthcare workers across Ethiopia, either without charge or for peacefully exercising basic liberties,” reads the statement.
The EHPA has called for an end to dismissals, threats, and attempts to replace striking professionals.
“Since May, the Ethiopian authorities have resorted to repressive tactics instead of addressing healthcare workers’ concerns about their livelihoods and safety,” said Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch, calling on the federal government to cease its harassment of health workers.
The statement pointed to Ethiopia’s low spending on public healthcare, which, at 0.7 percent of GDP, falls below the 1.2 percent average for low-income countries, citing the 2022 World Health Organization data.
In addition, a surgeon told HRW that he earns USD 80 a month, stating, “I cannot even change my shoes. I cannot even properly feed my child”, according to the report.
The rights group statement also indicates that in May, healthcare workers halted non-emergency services nationwide. However, the Health Ministry ordered them back to work, threatening legal action.
The report also noted that police detained at least 47 workers in May, including Mahlet Guush (MD), a pathologist, who was held for three weeks after speaking to the media about working conditions. Authorities released her without charges.
“The Ethiopian authorities won’t be able to tackle the country’s serious healthcare problems by suspending doctors’ associations or by harassing and jailing healthcare workers,” said Bader.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) recently met with healthcare workers and acknowledged their concerns.
He said that his administration is working to improve conditions.
