Ethiopia Prioritizes Dermatology and Venereology as Health Sector Expands Specialized Care – Health Minister

Addis Ababa, April 24, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s Health Minister, Dr. Mekdes Daba, said dermatology and venereology are among the top priorities in the country’s health system.

The 5th African Society of Dermatology and Venereology Congress (ASDV) is underway in Addis Ababa from April 24 to 25.

The congress has drawn professionals from more than 30 countries, along with governmental and non-governmental organizations, and aims to explore ways of strengthening collaboration in the field and exchanging professional experience.

In her opening remarks, Minister Mekdes Daba said the country’s health sector is undergoing a deep and deliberate transformation, with a focus on strengthening primary health care and expanding access to specialized services.

“If we’re not connecting primary health care to specialized and high-level care, we cannot close the loop in the care that we want to deliver in dermatology and venereology,” she said.

She noted that the number of dermatologists and venereology specialists has increased significantly over the years, although gaps still remain.

Accordingly, the country is working to invest and collaborate with partners globally, with particular emphasis on South-to-South cooperation with universities and institutions across the continent, the minister pointed out.

According to her, Ethiopia is advancing digital health, with digitalization and artificial intelligence increasingly embedded in diagnostics.

“In Ethiopia, dermatology intersects directly with our national priorities. It is closely linked with the infectious diseases we are fighting, where previous policies were more focused. Now, as we evolve beyond prevention alone, we are also strengthening both prevention and treatment in our policy,” she said.

Dr. Mekdes added that digital tools are creating new opportunities, noting that telemedicine and decision-support systems are enabling health extension workers, family doctors, and other primary health care professionals to better support specialists through improved referral and linkage systems.

Moez Ben Salem, President of ASDV, said the association was established 10 years ago with the aim of uniting and fostering collaboration among dermatologists across Africa.

He stated that the conference—attended by dermatologists from Ethiopia, other African countries, and beyond, including Europe, America, Asia, and Australia—provides an opportunity for specialists to exchange scientific experience.

He added that the conference program is rich and diverse, featuring both classic dermatology topics and the latest developments in the field, which are becoming increasingly important in medical congresses.

The congress will therefore play a vital role in creating an enabling platform for countries to collaborate in expertise exchange and knowledge sharing, among others, he underscored.