Addis Ababa, Feb. 18(ENA)--Ethiopia's overall health service coverage which was only 38 per cent eight years ago has been raised 61 per cent at the end of last Ethiopian year, the ministry of health said.

According to the Annual Health Survey Report the ministry launched on Tuesday, the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) coverage which was only 28 per cent eight years ago has now been doubled.

Public Relations Services head with the Ministry, Ahmed Imano told ENA that 42 hospitals built by the government as well as non governmental organizations in different parts of the country have gone operational over the past few years.

In 1994 there were only 73 hospitals across the country, he said.

More than 500 kebele (smallest administrative unit) health service facilities have been constructed over the past five years, the head said, adding that the survey indicated that 1,856 rural pharmacies have been rendering services.

The ministry's document indicated that there was only one pharmaceutical in the country in 1994. There are currently nine pharmaceuticals that manufacture and supply 35 per cent of the country's drugs needs, Ahmed said.

All the national regional states have been able to establish health professionals' training institutions, he said, adding that the number of health professionals has been growing steadily.

The survey report indicated that Ethiopia's Health Sector Development Program (HSDP) has registered significant results over the past ten years.

The report is now officially released both for pertinent bodies as well as the public at large, Ahmed said.

The Annual Health Survey Report, which has now been released for the 8th time, incorporated information on the overall situation of basic health service in the country, the main goals of the HSDP as well as other demographic data.

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