Country's First Private Health Sector Exhibition Held Here

Addis Abeba — Some 200 representatives of private health clinics, hospitals, medical supply companies and financial institutions participated on the first ever private health sector exhibition.

The exhibition provided a unique opportunity for the private health sector to meet and share information in support of the growth of a high quality, affordable private health sector responsive to the needs of the people, USAID said in press statement Friday.

The exhibition under the theme of Strengthening and Growing Private Practices in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS is sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s Banking on Health Project which is funded by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the agency said.

The exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia and the Medical Association of Physicians in Private Practice, will support the development of the private health sector, and Ethiopia's partnership with the private health sector to improve safety, affordability and access to critical public health services, USAID said.

Dr. Yibeltal Assefa, Director of Health Services Ministry of Health, and USAID/Ethiopia Acting Deputy Director Gerald A. Cashion delivered remarks at the opening of the exhibition at Bole Rock Hotel.

In his remarks, Dr. Cashion said, "USAID is proud to sponsor this exhibition that will enable private medical clinic and hospital owners to obtain essential information, contacts, and inputs to help them sustain and improve their businesses." A variety of commercial representatives and exhibitors participated in the Private Health Sector Exhibition including: medical equipment suppliers, pharmaceutical suppliers and distributors, insurance companies, professional associations, medical schools, literature and book suppliers, a nod banks interested in lending to private health providers. The exhibition also has panel presentations and paper presentations by health providers, healthcare management experts, banks, and government representatives.