Ethiopia Modernizes Health Governance by Linking Facility Licensing to Real-Time Data

In a major step toward transforming national health infrastructure, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, in partnership with JSI, launched the Master Facility Registry (MFR) Supplement- a strategic investment to transform the country’s MFR, which houses data on activity and performance of all health facilities in the country, into a dynamic “single-source of truth” platform. The goal is to measurably improve health service access, enhance access across geographies and demographic groups, and optimize resource efficiency nationwide.

This is a game-changer for health system accountability,” said Amanuel Biru, Deputy Director of the JSI-led Data Use Partnership (DUP). “By tying accurate data to a facility’s legal right to operate, we guarantee that the information driving our health system is reliable and verified.”

The initiative replaces outdated, monolithic software. Built on global standards, the new MFR is designed to ensure seamless interoperability, allowing it to easily exchange information with other digital tools, such as DHIS2. It also links directly to the official health facility licensing process, and a facility cannot receive or renew its license until its data is fully updated. This “no update, no license” rule ensures that national records stay accurate and reliable for everyone who uses them.

Recognizing the unique challenges across Ethiopia’s vast landscape, the Ministry of Health and JSI are implementing a phased “learn-as-you-go” rollout. The system will initially be implemented in the Addis Ababa, Sidama, and Somali regions. This initial deployment is designed to test the system’s efficacy across various environments, specifically urban (Addis Ababa), agrarian (Sidama), and pastoralist (Somali) settings.

A core pillar of the partnership is technical sovereignty. The goal is to ensure Ethiopia can maintain and grow its digital health systems without long-term reliance on foreign implementers. To achieve this, JSI and the MOH are focusing on: regional capacity by working with Regional Health Bureaus, local partnerships through collaboration with Ethiopian tech firms for system maintenance; and a government roadmap that includes a costed plan for a full, government-led national rollout.