Health

Is health service available and accessible to refugees in Ethiopia, particularly in Addis Ababa?

As a refugee or an asylum-seeker, you have the same right as any citizen to access the available health services in the Ethiopian health system, including health centres and secondary and tertiary hospitals in Addis Ababa.

As a refugee, you can also access private health facilities, if you are able to cover related costs.

Are the health services free for Asylum seekers and refugees?

No, if you use the health system in Ethiopia, you need to pay the standard fee for health services, except for a few services, such as routine immunization and family planning.

Unless covered by DICAC in the case of the referral process to urban refugee assistance and/or for those already under urban refugee assistance, including new inclusions. In any circumstance, having one ID card is commendable. It has nothing to do with service payment issues.

Where should I go in case of an urgency or emergency?

In case of emergency, you can go to one of the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) (first contact points) closest to your districts/woreda of the city administration.

If the case requires health care services beyond the capacity of the Primary Healthcare Centres, you may be transferred to the next secondary and then tertiary level hospitals.

You can also go to one of the private clinics and hospitals as an additional service centre, but these only.

At the health facilities, you will receive a card/paper/registry you should keep and always bring when seeking medical services.

Where can I find information on national vaccination and immunization programmes (calendar of vaccination)?

Visit the Ethiopian Ministry of Health website for information on national immunization, including the vaccine calendar.

Is information specifically about HIV/AIDS and HIV test centres available?

Yes, all Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) and Public Hospitals provide integrated services, immunization, HIV-related services RH/FP, maternal and child health services, in-patient and outpatient services, among others.

Who is eligible for medical assistance through the Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (DICAC)?

Refugees who have advanced disease conditions require continuous follow-up by specialized medical services, which are not available in refugee camps or nearby towns.

This is based on medical assessments undertaken jointly by the health partners and UNHCR Public Health Units. The assessment shall be initiated at the camp level.

Health support organisation:

The health support available for refugees and asylum seekers is organized according to their location. Select below:

- UNHCR’s partners provide the full range of medical care available at camp level.

- When the care is not available at camp level, and it is deemed necessary to seek health facilities outside of the camps (either in the zone, region, or Addis Ababa), camp-based refugees are referred for advanced medical care. Health partners can facilitate the referrals, and the full cost is covered.

For refugees enrolled in the urban programme in Addis Ababa, full healthcare is supported through the partner DICAC. There is a 24/7 medical emergency service arrangement by DICAC. This service is facilitated by day and nighttime fixed call numbers and emergency team (crew members).

For exceptional life-saving cases, health assistance may be provided to out-of-camp (OCP) refugees in Addis Ababa. Although in theory the out-of-camp policy is only applicable for refugees, who either have a sponsor or are considered self-reliant, in the past RRS would provide partial support to this population. However, the assistance to this group was discontinued in 2019 due to lack of funding. Since then, an exceptional arrangement has been made with the partner DICAC to offer care on a case-by-case basis, restricted to emergency life-saving services. And first-hand approval and recommendations of UNHCR and RRS.