The Ethiopian Ministry of Health has officially introduced a comprehensive new directive aimed at regulating the process for citizens seeking medical treatment outside the country. Directive No. 1128/2018, titled the 'Implementation Directive for Foreign Medical Service Referral System,' establishes strict financial, medical, and administrative requirements to ensure patient safety and service quality.
One of the most significant changes introduced by the directive is the mandatory proof of financial capacity. Patients seeking permission to travel abroad for general medical procedures must now provide bank statements showing a minimum balance of 500,000 Ethiopian Birr (ETB). For those requiring organ transplants, the financial requirement increases to 1,000,000 ETB. Additionally, transplant patients must provide detailed documentation regarding the donor's health status and the legal agreement between the donor and the recipient.
Under the new rules, medical boards will only approve foreign referrals under specific conditions. These include instances where the required treatment is not available within Ethiopia, when diagnostic samples cannot be sent abroad for testing, or when long domestic waiting lists pose an immediate threat to the patient's life. Referrals may also be granted for essential follow-up care that cannot be managed locally.
The decision-making process will be overseen by a hospital medical board consisting of three to five members, led by the facility's Medical Director. These boards are required to meet weekly to review applications. Patients must present approved board evidence along with a valid ID or passport to proceed with their travel requests.
The directive also brings much-needed regulation to medical tourism agents and facilitators. All agents must now be qualified health professionals and obtain a certificate of competence from the Ministry of Health. They are strictly prohibited from providing exaggerated or misleading information about foreign medical services and are required to submit quarterly performance reports to the Ministry.
In a move to enhance patient protection, the directive stipulates that foreign medical institutions are liable for any quality failures, medical errors, or professional negligence. While the foreign institution holds the primary liability for compensation, the local agent is responsible for selecting reputable institutions and ensuring that accountability mechanisms are in place. The Ministry of Health warned that agents violating these rules face penalties ranging from written warnings to the permanent revocation of their operating licenses, particularly for submitting fraudulent documents or endangering patient safety.
This directive has been formally registered and approved by the Ministry of Justice, marking a significant shift in how Ethiopia manages international medical referrals and the associated foreign currency outflows.
Source: Telegram / tikvahethiopia