Setting a New Standard for Healthcare Quality in Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s healthcare system faces significant challenges in delivering consistent, high-quality care. With over 70% of healthcare facilities lacking accreditation and systemic issues such as inadequate infrastructure, undertrained medical staff, and limited resources, patients experience poor service delivery and restricted access to essential care. In response to these challenges, TRAIDE Foundation has partnered with SafeCare to introduce a structured approach to improving healthcare quality in Ethiopia. By fostering collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders, this initiative aims to build a more sustainable and effective healthcare system aligned with Ethiopia’s national priorities and global Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing Ethiopia’s Healthcare Challenges

The private healthcare sector in Ethiopia faces multiple barriers that hinder its capacity to provide high-quality services. Among these challenges are underdeveloped licensing and accreditation processes, insufficient healthcare infrastructure, and a workforce that lacks the necessary training to meet evolving healthcare demands. These limitations contribute to overcrowded facilities, long wait times, and inequitable access to care, particularly for vulnerable populations.

To address these persistent issues, Ethiopia is working toward the implementation of national healthcare accreditation standards. However, for these reforms to be successful, there is a critical need for structured methodologies that help healthcare providers measure, monitor, and enhance the quality of care.

SafeCare: A Proven Solution for Healthcare Quality Improvement

SafeCare offers a structured, stepwise quality improvement methodology designed to help healthcare facilities assess and enhance their performance. Using internationally recognized standards, SafeCare provides a digital platform that enables facilities to evaluate their service delivery, identify areas for improvement, and implement targeted quality interventions.

SafeCare operates in 25 countries and collaborates with 35 public and private partners, impacting the healthcare quality of 3.5 million patients globally. In Ethiopia, SafeCare has already established a presence through its partnership with Cure International, which has achieved SafeCare Level 5 certification for its Addis Ababa hospital, setting a benchmark for excellence in quality care.

SafeCare’s model is designed to be scalable and adaptable to local healthcare needs. Through its Trainer of Trainers model, SafeCare empowers local partners to become trusted quality improvement facilitators, ensuring that knowledge and expertise are transferred effectively within the Ethiopian healthcare ecosystem.

Building a Public-Private Partnership

TRAIDE played a critical role in accelerating SafeCare’s entry into Ethiopia by fostering strategic partnerships and facilitating market exploration. Recognizing the need for a structured quality improvement system, TRAIDE has worked to connect SafeCare with regulatory bodies, healthcare providers, and key advocacy platforms.

One of the first milestones in this collaboration was organizing stakeholder meetings and market entry assessments to align SafeCare’s approach with Ethiopia’s national healthcare objectives. These efforts have contributed to securing the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) approval for implementing SafeCare’s methodology in the private healthcare sector through a formal Memorandum of Understanding with key stakeholders.

TRAIDE’s engagement aims to ensure that SafeCare’s integration into Ethiopia’s healthcare system is both sustainable and aligned with national policies, paving the way for long-term improvements in healthcare quality.

Laying the Groundwork: The Pilot Phase

The initial phase of SafeCare’s implementation in Ethiopia will focus on a pilot program, serving as a proof of concept to demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology in improving healthcare quality. The pilot will involve selected healthcare facilities where SafeCare’s standards will be tested and refined based on local conditions.

The Ministry of Health plays an enabling role by working closely with SafeCare to support private healthcare facilities in meeting the requirements of Ethiopia’s emerging National Hospital Accreditation Standards. The pilot phase will also help healthcare providers familiarize themselves with the quality improvement framework and assess its scalability for a broader rollout.

Scaling Up the SafeCare Approach

Following the pilot phase, efforts will be directed toward expanding SafeCare’s methodology to a greater number of healthcare facilities across Ethiopia. This next phase will involve scaling the approach, refining implementation strategies, and providing feedback on draft accreditation standards to ensure alignment with Ethiopia’s healthcare policies.

To promote the long-term sustainability of this initiative, SafeCare will work on refining financial models that make quality healthcare improvements accessible and equitable. By strengthening partnerships and reinforcing policy alignment, the initiative aims to establish Ethiopia as a regional leader in high-quality healthcare services.

New Solutions for Quality Healthcare in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is at a pivotal moment in its healthcare transformation journey. TRAIDE Foundation invites businesses, government organizations, and development partners to collaborate on developing new private sector solutions in the healthcare sector.

To learn more about partnership opportunities or discuss new concepts, reach out to us at ethiopia@traide.org.