WASHINGTON, DC, January 22, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Since 2011, we, the Ethio-American Doctors Group (EADG), have been a collective of over 350 Ethiopian diaspora physicians and health professionals dedicated to advancing healthcare in Ethiopia, with a commitment to build a Medical City Center with 300-bed state-of-the-art hospital. Two specific concerns have been raised in public discourse: (1) whether EADG had the financial resources to complete the project, and (2) whether EADG had made progress on the allotted land for over a decade. We wish to categorically respond to both of these points with facts and clarity.

Financial Capacity and Commitment: The suggestion that EADG lacks the funds or capacity to complete this project is unfounded. In reality, EADG and its members have already invested over USD $12 million of our own capital into the project to date. This funding went toward critical early phases, including the installation of about 1,000 reinforced concrete piles for the foundation by 2019 – a major structural milestone where Commercial Bank of Ethiopia appraised the total value of the project up to that time to be USD$12 million. We also completed all architectural and engineering designs for the entire hospital campus, so the project is fully planned and "shovel-ready". Equally important, our group had demonstrated financial readiness to see the project through. We had secured partnerships and pledges from reputable international institutions and other private investors. These partnerships underscore that funding was in place for construction and equipping of the hospital.

False Claims Regarding Sale of the Land: We also categorically deny the unfounded claim circulating in some quarters that EADG attempted to sell any portion of the land allocated for the Medical City Center project. This allegation is not only untrue, but legally implausible: under Ethiopian law, EADG had no authority to sell the leased land, nor did we ever seek to do so. We believe this misunderstanding may have arisen from our transparent efforts to attract local investors and construction partners to participate in the project — a common and lawful practice intended solely to strengthen the financial and technical capacity required to develop the entire Medical City Center.

We respectfully state that misinformation of this nature has unnecessarily damaged trust in a project built on service, sacrifice, and commitment to Ethiopia's healthcare future.

Project Progress and Use of Land: The claim that EADG has not made progress on the development and construction on the land is simply not true. The fact is that significant progress was made on the ground – and any delays have been due to factors outside EADG's control, not a lack of initiative. 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. From the outset, this 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 even a hotel for patient families – a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem designed to serve Ethiopia for generations. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 20, 2017, with the attendance of the former Prime Minister, His Excellency Ato Hailemariam Desalegn, after which construction formally commenced. By October 2020, the entire foundation work for the hospital had been completed. Throughout this period, we have consistently met all of our obligations, including timely payment of annual land lease fees and full compliance with all permit requirements. At no point has EADG been inactive; on the contrary, we have remained proactive and fully engaged at every stage of the project.

To further demonstrate our commitment, we had 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. This partnership would have enabled us to fulfill our long-standing vision, which closely aligns with the Government of Ethiopia's stated objectives as expressed in multiple public forums.

It is important to understand why the project has not yet been finalized. The major delays we encountered were due to administrative and procedural blockages, not due to any lack of effort or funding on EADG's part. Since 2020, our team's repeated attempts to renew the necessary building permit and secure final approvals have been met with prolonged bureaucratic hurdles. We faced situations such as paperwork getting lost, turnover in relevant offices, and long periods of inaction that were beyond our control. Even during challenging times – including the COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptions – EADG continued to engage authorities in good faith to move the project forward. Unfortunately, these efforts were often met with silence or new procedural requirements, which led to the project's timeline stretching far longer than anyone hoped. We want to emphasize that the delays were not due to EADG's inaction. In fact, we had been ready and eager to build for years, and had been persistently requesting the green light to proceed. Despite some public narratives suggesting that EADG "did not develop the land for over 10 years," the reality is that we completed the foundational construction and had continually sought permission to continue building. Any assertion that nothing had been done on the project is false – the groundwork has been laid, and only administrative clearance had been holding back the vertical construction.

Our Commitment: We wish to make it absolutely clear that EADG and its members were committed to realizing this healthcare project. Our commitment was not just in words, but in deeds. Over 40% of our 350+ diaspora physician members are already actively involved in service to Ethiopia's health sector. Many of us routinely travel to Ethiopia to conduct free medical camps, specialist training workshops for local doctors, and to donate vital medical supplies and equipment to hospitals in need. This level of diaspora engagement – with specialists in fields ranging from neurosurgery to cardiology volunteering their time – demonstrates that our dedication to improving Ethiopian healthcare has never depended solely on the construction of a new hospital. It is a mission we live by daily. The planned EADG Medical Campus is an extension of that mission: a long-term infrastructure commitment to amplify the impact we can have on the country's health system.

From its very inception, the EADG Medical City Center project was conceived as an act of service and duty to Ethiopia and its people, not as a commercial venture. None of our physicians joined this initiative expecting financial gain. We came together with a shared vision: to give back to the country that is the foundation of our heritage. This project is born out of love for Ethiopia and a desire to see its people receive the quality medical care they deserve, right at home. We firmly believe Ethiopia deserves world-class healthcare facilities, and it has been our dream to contribute to that goal. That sense of duty and shared responsibility remains at the core of EADG's efforts. Every challenge we have faced has only strengthened our resolve to contribute to Ethiopia's development.

So far, we have not yet received any official notice from the City Administration that the land has been confiscated, but we observe houses being built on it. In short of appropriate actions from the government, our dream project is on the verge of dying. This is sad and unfortunate to all of us.

In closing, we address the Ethiopian public, the government, and the international community with transparency. The Ethio-American Doctors Group was committed to complete this state-of-the-art medical campus as a gift of lasting value to Ethiopia. We appreciate the patience, support, and understanding of everyone who has believed in this project.

Sincerely,
Ethio-American Doctors Group (EADG)
(For media inquiries, please contact EADG at info@ethioamericandoctors.com.)

Ethio-American Doctors Group (EADG) is a corporation organized in the United States and has established a subsidiary in Ethiopia, EADG Healthcare City Centre Share Company. EADG's mission is to develop a state-of-the-art, economically sustainable center-of-excellence hospital that delivers internationally accredited standards of care and become a catalyst for transforming healthcare delivery in Ethiopia, the region, and beyond.

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