The Ethio-American Doctors Group (EADG), a collective of over 350 Ethiopian diaspora physicians and health professionals, has issued an open letter addressing public concerns about their planned Medical City Center project in Addis Ababa. The group, which has been working on the project since 2011, responded to questions about financial capacity and progress on the allotted land, emphasizing their commitment to advancing healthcare in Ethiopia.
Regarding financial capacity, EADG stated they have already invested over USD $12 million of their own capital into the project. This funding supported critical early phases, including the installation of approximately 1,000 reinforced concrete piles for the foundation by 2019. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia appraised the total project value at that time to be USD $12 million. The group also completed all architectural and engineering designs for the entire hospital campus, making the project fully planned and "shovel-ready." EADG had secured partnerships and pledges from reputable international institutions and private investors, demonstrating financial readiness for construction and equipping of the hospital.
EADG categorically denied claims that they attempted to sell any portion of the land allocated for the Medical City Center project. They explained that under Ethiopian law, EADG had no authority to sell the leased land, nor did they ever seek to do so. The group believes this misunderstanding may have arisen from their transparent efforts to attract local investors and construction partners to participate in the project—a common and lawful practice intended to strengthen the financial and technical capacity required to develop the entire Medical City Center.
The group addressed claims about project progress, stating that significant progress was made on the ground despite delays due to factors outside their control. EADG leased a 15-hectare site in the Lemi-Kura sub-city of Addis Ababa in 2019 for the development of a full medical campus. The site was intended to host a state-of-the-art "Medical City Center" including a 300-bed tertiary referral hospital that is Joint Commission International accredited (JCI), a nursing school, residential facilities for staff, a commercial area, and a hotel for patient families. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 20, 2017, with the attendance of former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, after which construction formally commenced. By October 2020, the entire foundation work for the hospital had been completed.
EADG explained that major delays were due to administrative and procedural blockages rather than lack of effort or funding. Since 2020, their team's repeated attempts to renew the necessary building permit and secure final approvals have been met with prolonged bureaucratic hurdles, including paperwork getting lost, turnover in relevant offices, and periods of inaction beyond their control. Despite these challenges, EADG continued to engage authorities in good faith to move the project forward. The group formally submitted a request to the Ministry of Health on December 24, 2021, seeking collaboration under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model so that the institution may remain a national asset.
The group emphasized their commitment to realizing this healthcare project, noting that over 40% of their 350+ diaspora physician members are already actively involved in service to Ethiopia's health sector. Many members routinely travel to Ethiopia to conduct free medical camps, specialist training workshops for local doctors, and donate vital medical supplies and equipment to hospitals in need. The planned EADG Medical Campus is an extension of that mission: a long-term infrastructure commitment to amplify their impact on the country's health system.
EADG stated they have not yet received any official notice from the City Administration that the land has been confiscated, but they observe houses being built on it. They expressed concern that without appropriate actions from the government, their dream project is on the verge of dying. The group addressed the Ethiopian public, the government, and the international community with transparency, reaffirming their commitment to complete this state-of-the-art medical campus as a gift of lasting value to Ethiopia. More information about their mission can be found at https://www.ethioamericandoctors.com.
