Tha capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa City is set to host an international trade fair and forum focusing on healthcare, medical, pharma and wellness technology, inputs and solutions, the organizers said.
Ethiopia’s largest multi-disciplinary Healthcare Professional Development forum is expected to attract over 3,000 medical professionals operating in different disciplines, according to press statement from Prana Events. Participants from Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, India, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates are set to discuss business with more than four thousand trade and Medical professionals. The event which will be held at the Millennium Hall from 17 – 19 May, 2019, is the 5th edition.
“The event is completely committed to upbeat the progression of the healthcare industry presenting a unique opportunity for all related to the field to reach new horizons of effective cooperation and discuss vital issues that stand currently in front of the healthcare value chain. There will also be ample scope for establishing profitable business relationship and a chance to interact with others in the area of trade and investment on the sector,” the organizer said.
This prestigious exhibition and congress has proved to be the major platform that fuel the sector development through trade facilitation, market linkages, introduction of new technology and transfer of knowledge for concerned stakeholders across the whole value chain.
Ethiopia’s Healthcare Market
Having a growth rate of 2.4% annually, Ethiopia has a population of 105+ million people with a trend of doubling every 25 year, which creates a huge burden on health service delivery. Ethiopia is currently experiencing demographic and epidemiologic shift.
There is a triple disease burden: Communicable disease, non-communicable disease and injuries. With communicable disease are on the decline, non-communicable disease are projected to rise in the next 14 years.
The data from Ethiopia Ministry of Health, the National Budget to health sector is 11.5%, which shows its dependence on external aid and fund. The overall cost for Health Sector Transformation Plan for (2015/16 – 2019/20) is estimated $15.6 billion and $22 billion in base and high case scenario.
Currently in Ethiopia there are 16,547 functional public Health posts, 3,962 Health centers and 290 Hospitals while 442 Health posts, 100 health Centers and 102 Hospitals under construction. The number of operational private facilities are 5,401 primary clinics, 62 hospitals, 536 specialty clinics and 1,308 medium clinics.
The pharmaceutical supply is increasing annually at a higher rate in the last couple of years. In 2018/2019 budget year the projected procurement is estimated to reach $800 Million, which has a huge increase from the previous year spending of $590 Million. Only 82% of life saving medication and 70% of essential drugs are supplied in the market.