The Ethio-American Doctors Group has issued a detailed response to public concerns regarding their planned Medical City Center project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The group of over 350 diaspora physicians and health professionals has invested over USD $12 million of their own capital into the project to date, with funding directed toward 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 value of the project up to that time at USD $12 million, confirming the group's substantial financial commitment.
EADG categorically denies allegations that they attempted to sell any portion of the 15-hectare site leased in the Lemi-Kura sub-city of Addis Ababa in 2019. Under Ethiopian law, the group had no authority to sell the leased land, nor did they ever seek to do so. The 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.
Significant progress has been made on the ground despite public narratives suggesting otherwise. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 20, 2017, with attendance from former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, after which construction formally commenced. By October 2020, the entire foundation work for the hospital had been completed. The group has consistently met all obligations, including timely payment of annual land lease fees and full compliance with all permit requirements. Architectural and engineering designs for the entire hospital campus are complete, making the project fully planned and "shovel-ready."
Major delays have been attributed to administrative and procedural blockages rather than any lack of effort or funding from EADG. Since 2020, repeated attempts to renew necessary building permits and secure final approvals have been met with prolonged bureaucratic hurdles, including lost paperwork, turnover in relevant offices, and periods of inaction beyond the group's control. Even during challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic, EADG continued to engage authorities in good faith to move the project forward, often encountering silence or new procedural requirements.
The planned Medical City Center represents a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem designed to serve Ethiopia for generations. The campus was intended to include a 300-bed tertiary referral hospital with Joint Commission International accreditation, a nursing school, residential facilities for staff, a commercial area, and a hotel for patient families. To further demonstrate commitment, EADG formally submitted a request to the Ministry of Health on December 24, 2021, seeking collaboration under a Public–Private Partnership model so the institution would remain a national asset. This partnership would have enabled fulfillment of their long-standing vision, which aligns with the Government of Ethiopia's stated healthcare objectives.
Over 40% of EADG's 350+ diaspora physician members are already actively involved in service to Ethiopia's health sector, conducting free medical camps, specialist training workshops for local doctors, and donating vital medical supplies and equipment to hospitals in need. The group emphasizes that their dedication to improving Ethiopian healthcare has never depended solely on the construction of a new hospital but represents a mission they live by daily. The project was conceived as an act of service and duty to Ethiopia and its people, not as a commercial venture, with none of the physicians joining the initiative expecting financial gain.
EADG has secured partnerships and pledges from reputable international institutions and private investors, underscoring that funding was in place for construction and equipping of the hospital. Despite this readiness, the group notes they have not yet received any official notice from the City Administration that the land has been confiscated, though they observe houses being built on it. Without appropriate government action, what was envisioned as a gift of lasting value to Ethiopia—a state-of-the-art medical campus that could transform healthcare delivery—remains unrealized after years of preparation and investment.
