ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - October 3, 2005 - Ministry of Health of Ethiopia disclosed that it will provide free anti-retroviral drugs in public hospitals regardless of individuals' economic status. The Ministry, issued directives in a circular letter dispatched to all regional health bureaux, to proceed with implementation of the provision of free antiretroviral drugs (ARVDs) to those who are HIV positive and AIDS patients based upon the clinical eligibility criteria.
The Ministry also made public recently that it has dropped the economic eligibility certification requirement as a screening mechanism for access to free antiretroviral drugs in addition to the clinical assessment.
The economic eligibility certifications were given by neighborhood (Kebele) committees in all regions to individuals to attest that they cannot afford to pay for the drugs. The decision to introduce the criteria was made due to the limited supply of antiretroviral drugs (ARVDs) in the country at the time the free ART was launched in February 2005 in order to reach the poorest and most vulnerable groups.
Currently, antiretroviral treatment is provided in 56 Health institutions in Ethiopia and so far 8,944 persons have benefited from the national free ART program. Presently 40 additional health institutions are under preparation to provide free ART services, which is expected to immensely contribute to the expansion of the ART program in the country.
It is to be recalled that various institutions in Ethiopia have been providing fee-based ART since July 2003. Persons were compelled to finance their own ARV medications at a cost of US $289-$346 per month which was reduced significantly to US $28 per month through negotiations undertaken by the Ethiopian government with drug companies as well as by instituting special provision for tax exemptions to pharmaceuticals. As a result, the total number of persons currently on ART is around twenty four thousand.
| ART Sites in Ethiopia /By regional distribution/ |
||
| No. |
Regions |
ART Sites |
| 1 |
ADDIS ABABA |
Tikur Anbessa Hospital |
| 2 |
St. Paulos Hospital |
|
| 3 |
Zewditu Hospital |
|
| 4 |
Police Hospital |
|
| 5 |
Armed Forces Hospital |
|
| 6 |
St. Peter Hospital |
|
| 7 |
Ground Force/ Bella Hospital |
|
| 8 |
Yekatit 12 Hospital |
|
| 9 |
Alert Hospital |
|
| 10 |
AFAR |
Dubti Hospital |
| 11 |
AMHARA |
Felege Hiwot Hospital /Bahirdar/ |
| 12 |
Gonder Hospital |
|
| 13 |
Dessie Hospital |
|
| 14 |
Debrebrhan Hospital |
|
| 15 |
Debremarkos Hospital |
|
| 16 |
Debretabor Hospital |
|
| 17 |
Sekota Hospital |
|
| 18 |
Finoteselam Hospital |
|
| 19 |
Woldia Hospital |
|
| 20 |
Mehalmeda Hospital |
|
| 21 |
Enat Hospital |
|
| 22 |
BENESHANGUL |
Assosa Hospital |
| 23 |
DIRE DAWA |
Dil Chora Hospital |
| 24 |
HARARI |
Hiwot Fana Hospital |
| 25 |
Harar Military Hospital |
|
| 26 |
SOMALI |
Karamara Hospital |
| 27 |
GAMBELLA |
Gambella Hospital |
| 28 |
OROMIYA |
Adama Hospital |
| 29 |
Jimma Hospital |
|
| 30 |
Airforce Hospital /Debrezeit/ |
|
| 31 |
Nekempt Hospital |
|
| 32 |
Ambo Hospital |
|
| 33 |
Assella Hospital |
|
| 34 |
Bisidimo Hospital |
|
| 35 |
Goba Hospital |
|
| 36 |
Bishoftu Hospital |
|
| 37 |
Chiro Hospital |
|
| 38 |
Negele Hospital |
|
| 39 |
Fiche Hospital |
|
| 40 |
Wonji Hospital |
|
| 41 |
Metu Carl Hospital |
|
| 42 |
SNNPR |
Soddo Hospital |
| 43 |
Yirgalem Hospital |
|
| 44 |
Arbaminch Hospital |
|
| 45 |
Hossaena Hospital |
|
| 46 |
Mizan Hospital |
|
| 47 |
Butajira Hospital |
|
| 48 |
Dilla Hospital |
|
| 49 |
Jinka Hospital |
|
| 50 |
Atat Hospital |
|
| 51 |
TIGRAY |
Mekelle Hospital |
| 52 |
Humera Hospital |
|
| 53 |
Axum Hospital |
|
| 54 |
Adigrat Hospital |
|
| 55 |
Mekelle Army Hospital |
|
CONTACT:
Solomon Abate
Head, Public Relations
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office of Ethiopia (HAPCO-Ethiopia)
E-mail: hapco.pr@etharc.org
Tel: (251-11) 550 3506 or 550 3508 or 550 3560 or 515 2570
Mobile phone: (251-91) 120 8118
P. O. Box: 122326
Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia