Building primary health care from the ground up: family medicine, academic partnership, and health system reform in Ethiopia

Abstract

Since 2013, Ethiopia has trained more than 100 family physicians, a resource whose potential depends on integration of family medicine (FM) within a primary health care (PHC)-oriented health system. The Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Family Medicine (TAAAC-FM) has supported Ethiopia's inaugural FM residency since its inception. In 2025, TAAAC-FM co-convened a Policy Dialogue in Addis Ababa, with 40 participants from 10 countries to advance FM within PHC transformation. Five priorities emerged: FM identity and recognition; training reform; sustainable career pathways; health system alignment; equity and community engagement. Three recommendations: establishing government policy defining FM's role; expanding training and career pathways; and coordinating advocacy. Ethiopia's experience offers potentially relevant regional lessons for advancing FM toward Universal Health Coverage.