BBC Amharic – Over 15 health professionals arrested over the past few days say movement organizers
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Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from BBC Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
BBC Amharic – Over 15 health professionals arrested over the past few days say movement organizers
May 15, 2025
Over 15 health workers have been arrested in various parts of the country in connection with a health workers’ strike says the movement coordinator who spoke to BBC.
The health workers had called for improved wages, benefits and for fixes to the broken health system after which professionals across the country accused of being “leaders” were arrested and have faced severe repression according to coordinators who asked that their names not be mentioned.
Last week numerous health workers including the Ethiopian Health Professional Association President were arrested, and instead of answering the health professionals’ “demand for bread” the government has resorted to “abductions and harassment.”
One coordinator said the professionals have been arrested in Addis Ababa and various other parts of the country including from emergency departments while “dressed in gowns.”
Health professionals have been arrested from Felege Hiwot, Hawassa University Hospital, Leku Hospital (Sidama Region), Gonder University, Addis Alem, Nefas Mewcha Hospital, and from Tikur Anbessa and St. Paul's Hospitals.
Yesterday morning on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 (Ginbot 6, 2017 E.C.) doctors in St. Paul's Hospital including Dr. Sador Bereket and Dr. Ifa Adugna were arrested by police while coming to the hospital from where they were lodging according to eyewitnesses and coordinators who spoke to BBC.
The two doctors have been detained in the Addisu Gebeya police station for “supporting the movement” said one coordinator, adding “they are investigating them under suspicion of having a political agenda.”
An obstetrician named Dr. Dereje from Leku General Hospital in Sidama Region “was arrested by them from his place of lodging after he completed an 11-hour surgical procedure.”
“Dr. Dereje had not stopped working up to yesterday (Wednesday), he did not participate in the demonstration. Because he alone he could not stop working. He would complete each and every surgical procedure. They seized him after the surgeries” they said regarding the arrest.
Today on May 15, 2025 (Ginbot 7, 2017 E.C.) director of orthopedics at Tikur Anbessa Hospital Dr. Habtamu Menker was arrested from the hospital said a movement coordinator.
Beyond the arrests, the professionals have reported facing harassment and threats from government and hospital officials.
Numerous hospitals have warned “administrative measures” would be taken against professionals who fail to show up for work.
Teaching hospitals have called for resident doctors who fail to show up for work to leave their “places of residence.”
They have said “there is no one ready to listen to our problems” said one coordinator describing lack of any tangible response from the government, while hospitals have called for replacement professionals and have issued job listings in place of those who have went on strike.
“The fear mongering, threats, writing letters, and deploying soldiers to hospitals has continued. Yesterday (Wednesday) I traveled to see Tikur Anbessa and St. Paul’s Hospitals. They are encircled by police” they said describing the repression against them.
Last Monday night the minister of health Dr. Mekdes Daba appeared on national television said the government was working to respond to the demands of health professionals.
The coordinator said the government’s response has caused the movement to intensify, opened medical departments have been forced to close as a result of the repression, they said.
Another coordinator on their end said “they are exacerbating the matter. The public would be made to suffer in the middle...the problem has exposed professionals who have paid in blood and sweat do not deserve to face humiliation, beatings and harassment” they said, describing the government’s response as a “major mistake.”
“This movement cannot be stopped by force” said another coordinator, if the arrested health professionals are not freed a full strike will begin starting tomorrow on Friday, they warned.
The coordinator did not omit that the strikes have affected patients, “patients are seated waiting in lines, but there are no professionals” they said, adding it is the government who is accountable.
The “Ethiopian Health Professionals Movement” called for responses to 12 questions including demands for improved wages and benefits, had announced a 30-day warning period after which they would begin demonstrations effective May 13, 2025 (Ginbot 5, 2017 E.C.).
BBC’s numerous efforts to receive a response from the office of the Ministry of Health were unsuccessful.
