Addis Ababa, February 13, 2026: The Ethiopian Economics Association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Amref Health Africa, convened a high-level policy dialogue under the theme “Investing in Ethiopia’s Future: From Health Expenditure to Health Investment.” The event took place at the Haile Grand Hotel in Addis Ababa and brought together senior government officials, development partners, and health policy experts.

The dialogue was honored by the presence of H.E. Dr. Dereje Duguma, State Minister of the Ministry of Health, whose opening and closing remarks underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening health financing and advancing universal health coverage. Dr. Muluken Argaw, Strategic Affairs Executive Officer at the Ministry of Health, also played a central role in the event, delivering key presentations and contributing to discussions on Ethiopia’s current health financing landscape, priority areas, and reform initiatives.

The forum featured keynote addresses from representatives of the Ministry of Finance, World Health Organization Ethiopia Country Office, the Gates Foundation, and Amref Health Africa. Discussions highlighted ongoing public finance reforms, domestic resource mobilization opportunities, and strategic actions needed to transition from viewing health as an expenditure to recognizing it as a long-term investment.

A panel discussion and plenary session emphasized the importance of increasing public health investment, improving efficiency, and fostering strong partnerships among stakeholders. The event concluded with a call to action urging sustained policy commitment and coordinated efforts to ensure improved health outcomes and support Ethiopia’s long-term development goals.