The initiative works on planning medical doctor training, supporting the medical schools in the country focusing on the new medical schools and also involved in developing standards for the medical doctors training.

 Introduction: Total output of medical doctor has remained low (HSDP IV/FMOH, 2010).  In response, Ethiopia has intensified the pre-service education through increased number and expansion of medical schools from 14 to 27, building capacity and increase number of enrollees in the existing schools. 

Integrated Emergency Surgical Officers (IESO) initiative is meant for the reduction of the overwhelming maternal, prenatal and infant mortality rates and trauma related morbidities and mortalities. Thus the task shifting intended to produce emergency surgical officers capable to handle common emergency obstetric-gynecological and emergency general surgical procedures including trauma at accessible locality

Ethiopia is well known by high maternal, prenatal and infant mortality rates and trauma related morbidity and mortality.

Anesthesia was one of the least developed disciplines in the history of medical practice in Ethiopia. Due primarily to that, foreign anesthetists coming from different countries of the world exclusively covered the anesthesia service in the country for quite a very long time. Now, Anesthesia has reached a stage in which it has become one of the most important disciplines in the health delivery system of the country. The history of the effort to provide education and training in anesthesia goes back to 1974 G.C.

The Federal Government of Ethiopia has committed itself to the Millennium Development Goals outlined in the Millennium Declarations of 2000. Of particular challenge to the Federal Ministry of Health and related Ministries is the achievement of MDG 4 and 5 pertaining to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality by three fourth and two third respectively by 2015 from their unacceptably high levels in 1990.

Objective of the unit:

The objective of Medical Services directorate is to improve the quality of health services and utilization by the population through reorganizing the health service delivery system. It aims to:

• Implement decentralized management to ensure full community participation.
• Develop and implement essential health service package and referral system.
• Develop health facility standards and staff, and equip health facilities.

Main Teams of the Unit: