“Healthcare for Everyone” in Ethiopia

Over the coming weeks, a delegate from Spanish Cooperation will be joining the Ethiopian Health Insurance Agency to provide expert technical assistance for the creation of universal health insurance in Ethiopia, in line with the national strategy for “HEALTHCARE FOR EVERYONE”.

This collaboration falls within the framework of the APIA Programme of Support for Inclusive Public Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Programme, led by AECID in conjunction with FIIAPP is intended as a way of providing assistance in local processes for the creation and monitoring of public policies that provide access to resources and services to the public at large, thereby helping to reduce poverty, inequality and promote inclusive growth.

The Ethiopian Government’s “Healthcare for Everyone” strategy aspires to improve healthcare coverage in Ethiopia through a safe system aimed at all citizens, whether they form part of the formal productive sector (approximately 11% of the population) or the informal sector of population from urban and rural zones (around 80% of the population). Healthcare insurance pilot schemes are currently underway in 13 of the countries districts, representing some 1.45 million people across four separate regions (first phase). These schemes are designed to test the suitability and feasibility of the insurance as well as its sustainability and level acceptance among the population.

The expert representative of Spanish Cooperation will support the Ethiopian Medical Insurance Agency in the process of consolidating the system from a financial viability standpoint. Within this framework, Ethiopian professionals will be invited to visit Spain to enhance their knowledge by learning from the Spain’s experience in the development of a universal public healthcare system in a decentralised state.

In the Fourth Master Plan, Ethiopia is classed as a priority country for Spanish Cooperation, which supports national strategies in rural and healthcare development sectors and finances projects and conventions of Spanish NGDOs on rural development and the eradication of hunger in the geographic regions stipulated within the Country Partnership Framework (Somali, Afar and Oromiya)