Ethiopian health professionals have delivered a powerful message to the Ministry of Health, issuing a ten-day ultimatum for immediate reforms. Their nationwide letter, signed over the weekend, exposes a grim reality—poverty-level wages, no access to housing, inadequate medical care, and in their words, a life “below human dignity.”
The letter underscores that this is not a political movement, but a moral stand: a cry for fairness, justice, and survival in a system that has long neglected its most vital workers.
“We are tired of being praised in public and forgotten in practice,” said a nurse from Bahir Dar, speaking to our sources under condition of anonymity. “They call us heroes, but heroes are starving and dying in silence.”
Many health professionals are reportedly unable to afford transportation to work. Others have stopped going altogether, not out of protest, but simply because they cannot survive on their current wages. In some cases, health workers are forced to seek treatment in the very public hospitals where they work—only to be turned away due to lack of supplies or money.
“My colleague passed away from a preventable illness,” said a midwife from Oromia. “We treat others, but when it’s our turn, we are told to find help elsewhere. How is that fair?”
The letter also highlights a deeply disturbing trend: health workers being seen begging on the streets, asking for treatment or support. It is a heartbreaking testament to the broken system they serve.
Our sources identify the following government failures as core causes of this crisis:
Skyrocketing Cost of Living: Inflation has made basic commodities unaffordable. Rent, transportation, and food costs continue to rise, while health workers’ salaries remain stagnant and far below the national average.
Corruption and Misuse of Funds: Public funds meant for development and health services are routinely siphoned off through corrupt networks. Hospitals are under-equipped and understaffed, while billions disappear.
Ethnic and Political Favoritism: Hiring and promotions in the health sector are increasingly based on ethnicity or political alignment rather than merit. This has created a toxic environment, stifling professionalism and demoralizing those committed to their oath.
The letter is not just a list of complaints. It is a warning.
“We are giving the Ministry ten days,” one of the organizers told our source. “If there is no serious response, we will take legal action. We are not afraid anymore. We have nothing left to lose.”
The legal action could range from lawsuits to organized strikes or appeals to international bodies. What is certain is that the country’s health system is under unprecedented strain—and those who keep it running are at a breaking point.
This is more than a worker’s ultimatum. It is a call to national conscience.
Will the government respond with compassion and reform—or allow the collapse of one of the nation’s most essential services?
