Rights Watchdog Reveals Arrests, Intimidation Of Health Workers As Strikes Continue

Police say they have apprehended 47 health professionals for alleged collusion with “forces of violence”

Hospitals and clinics across the country continue to see service interruptions as the federal government remains unresponsive to the spate of demands put forward by striking health professionals.

On April 11, 2025, health professionals submitted a list of demands, most of which are related to salary rises, benefits, and improved working conditions, to the government and threatened to go on a general strike if their terms were not met within the month.

Over the following weeks, social media platforms were flooded with posts highlighting the daily struggles of Ethiopia’s health workers as they struggle to keep up with low wages and high living costs. The average Ethiopian doctor earns less than USD 100 a month despite long working hours and less than ideal working conditions.

The federal government opted not to respond to the demands before the deadline on May 11, triggering protests and walkouts at health centers across the country, including at the largest public hospitals in Addis Ababa.

– Advertisement –

On Wednesday, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) finally broke its silence on the ongoing strike and urged for dialogue to resolve the situation. A statement issued by the Commission confirmed that health professionals find themselves subject to intimidation and arrests as the government cracks down on the movement.

Yonathan Dagnew, president of the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association, was among those arrested in relation to the protests. He was taken into police custody on May 10 and released eight days later.

“There needs to be swift resolution to the standoff in order to prevent human rights violations as the health workers continue their strike and the government continues taking countermeasures,” reads the EHRC statement.

The commission says it is keeping Tabs on Striks in Agaro, Arba Minch, Bahir Dar, Fiche, Goba, Hawassa, and Jimma in addition to the protests in Addis Ababa.

“Strikes in the health sector can negatively impact the community’s right to health and life. However, any administrative or legal action taken in response must comply with human rights standards,” said EHRC chief Berhanu Adelo.

The Commission indicates it has consulted administrators at several hospitals in the capital, including Tikur Anbessa and St. Paul, and held discussions with officials at the Ministry of Health as well as the representatives of medical associations.

Meanwhile, opposition figures from within and without are capitalizing on the developments, framing them as the outcome of what they describe as the government’s misplaced priorities.

Now residing in Kenya, Jawar Mohammed of the OFC (Oromo Federalist Party) is among those who have called for the government to halt what he described as “egocentric projects” and instead work to meet the demands of health workers.

Economists who spoke to The Reporter recommend substantial pay rises across the board as a solution, potentially through reducing income tax for health workers.

An Open Letter addressed to the prime minister from an anonymous source reads: “What is happening today is not a political movement. It is not driven by ideology or faction. It is the simple, painful consequence of neglect that has gone on far too long for more than 3 decades – neglect of the basic human needs of those who serve others, often at their most vulnerable. This is a plea- not for power, not for privilege – but for survival, for dignity, and for justice.

“Doctors in Ethiopia are not just clinicians. They are teachers and educators, researchers, administrators, leaders, and when the country calls – soldiers. Many lead and serve in the most remote and underprivileged corners of the country and almost all are pillars of their communities. Their contributions far exceed what is captured by a job title,” the letter says, adding despite their immense responsibility, they were struggling to meet the most basic needs of daily life with reports of doctors being unable to pay rent, skipping meals, or being forced to abandon their training because life in Addis Ababa has become unaffordable. “They reflect a systemic crisis.”

Arrests

In a statement issued on Friday, the Federal Police said that they have apprehended 47 health professionals for allegedly colluding with who they described as “forces that work to wreck havoc” in the country, as well as for holding strikes and putting patients in harm’s ways.

According to the statement, the suspects made use of the demands put forth by the health professionals as a pretext to instigate violence, alleging that some of those engaged in strikes and protests on the premises of hospitals were not bona fide, but the “instigators made them wear white gowns to look like health professionals.”

Police added that investigations got underway on the suspects.

According to the statement, it was criminal to go on strike putting the lives of citizens on the line, instigating others to follow suit and harassing those attending to their regular duties, adding such acts were professionally unethical.

They also warn of further actions against those who “work to expand the horizon of unrest and violence.”

Earlier this week, Amnesty International had called for the government of Ethiopia to stop making arrests and release those health professionals detained.

Also in a statement earlier on, the Ministry of Health said the Ethiopian law clearly identified sectors that must never engage in strikes and the health sector is among those few sectors.

According the statement, only minorities at teaching hospitals stay away from their lines of duty, while others were deceived into joining in the strikes via social media instigations.