Healthcare Quality: From Luxury to a Contractual Standard
In a significant move toward transforming the Ethiopian healthcare sector, ABH Partners and the Ethiopian Healthcare Federation (EHF) recently hosted the second SafeCare Sensitization Workshop.
Held on February 19, 2026, the event brought together leaders from public and private insurance companies and private hospitals under the theme, “Strengthening Insurer-Provider Collaboration through Quality Linked Contracting.”
The workshop signaled a fundamental shift in how healthcare is viewed, moving the conversation from simply "paying for care" to actively "shaping higher-value care."
The session focused on two primary objectives.
- Introducing SafeCare
- Integrating measurable quality and safety metrics into formal agreements between insurers and healthcare providers.
Dr. Amare Deribew, Technical Director, ABH Partners, opened the session by highlighting the program's purpose and emphasizing the critical role insurers play in driving healthcare quality.
This was strengthened by Mr. Andargachew Gashu, CEO of the Ethiopian Healthcare Federation, who presented a strategic roadmap for insurers to move beyond theory and actively influence the quality of care delivered to their clients. Additionally, Mr. Mohammedamin, Quality Manager at SafeCare Ethiopia, demonstrated how the SafeCare framework provides the practical tools necessary to implement these safety standards.
One of the most impactful segments of the program was a vibrant group discussion that highlighted current systemic challenges.
- Assessment Gaps: Most insurers currently do not conduct formal quality assessments before contracting with providers.
- Hospital Standards: Hospital representatives acknowledged existing weaknesses in quality management and infection prevention.
These reflections enabled both sectors to present practical steps to integrate quality and safety standards into insurance contracting.
Summarizing the reflections, Dr. Amare acknowledged the attendees for their active participation and outlined the path forward, to build a healthcare market where quality becomes a foundation for trust, contracting, and better patient outcomes.
