Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abebe today announced ambitious plans to transform the Ethiopian capital into a leading health tourism destination, a goal being pursued in close collaboration with the private sector. The announcement came as the city inaugurated 22 completed health development projects, part of a larger push to bolster healthcare infrastructure.

The inaugurated facilities are among 28 health sector projects finalized during the recently concluded 2017 Ethiopian budget year (which ran from July 8, 2024, to July 7, 2025). During the official ceremony, Mayor Adanech highlighted the significant investment and partnership driving these developments.

"Alongside the government's direct efforts in healthcare, we are working hand-in-hand with the private economic sector on numerous health development initiatives to position Addis Ababa as a central hub for health tourism," Mayor Adanech stated.

The newly commissioned projects, which include facilities in the Bole, Lideta, and Arada sub-cities, are part of the city administration's broader success in completing 15,960 development projects across various sectors during the 2017 Ethiopian budget year. The mayor revealed that a substantial 4 billion birr was allocated solely for the health development projects inaugurated today.

Mayor Adanech assured that the newly opened health centers are fully equipped with the necessary medical devices and staffed with qualified personnel, enabling them to commence services immediately. She further emphasized that these facilities are designed to offer services equivalent to those found in primary hospitals, significantly enhancing equitable access to quality healthcare for residents.

Among the inaugurated health projects, nine are entirely new health centers, while 13 represent significant expansions of existing facilities. Looking ahead, Mayor Adanech also indicated that two major new hospitals and expansion projects in four existing hospitals, expected to more than double their current service capacities, are slated to become operational soon.

According to AMN, this strategic investment underscores Addis Ababa's commitment to both improving local healthcare access and attracting international patients, signaling a robust future for the city's health sector.