Ethiopia, boasting a significant number of skilled indigenous medical professionals, possesses considerable potential to thrive in the burgeoning medical tourism sector.
Dr. Gobena Godina, an expert from the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, highlighted the nation's medical tourism prospects during the ongoing review of the tourism sector plan implementation in Adama city. He presented a document aimed at raising awareness about this opportunity.
Dr. Gobena extensively elaborated on the necessary steps to enable Ethiopia to benefit from medical tourism, recognizing its importance within the global travel industry. He emphasized that a concerted effort in this sector could significantly reduce the foreign currency expenditure incurred by Ethiopian citizens seeking medical treatment abroad, allowing them to access quality services locally at reasonable costs.
Furthermore, Dr. Gobena stated that developing medical tourism presents a unique opportunity to enhance the country's healthcare infrastructure, undertake initiatives to boost its competitiveness, and generate valuable foreign income, and thereby further stimulating the broader tourism sector.
Endegena Abebe, the Minister of State for Marketing and Promotion at the Ministry of Tourism, responded to the document by affirming that Ethiopia must implement strategic measures to fully leverage its medical tourism potential.
He asserted that by strengthening the capabilities of healthcare institutions, expanding international collaborations, establishing robust monitoring and surveillance systems, ensuring facilities are up-to-date, and investing in capacity-building activities, Ethiopia can position itself as a preferred destination for medical tourists.