Digital health innovation is rapidly transforming healthcare systems worldwide. Ethiopia is at the forefront of this revolution with its electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS), known as Dagu. On May 27, 2025, a national dissemination workshop held in Addis Ababa brought together government officials, health experts, and development partners to review a comprehensive assessment of Dagu’s impact on Ethiopia’s health supply chain. This milestone event highlighted Ethiopia’s strong commitment to building a resilient, data-driven supply chain that ensures the reliable delivery of essential medicines and health supplies across the country.
Introduction to the Dagu eLMIS Platform
The Dagu system is a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s digital health strategy designed to improve visibility, transparency, and efficiency throughout the national health supply chain. By leveraging real-time data, Dagu supports better inventory management, enhances decision-making, and ultimately improves access to critical pharmaceuticals and nutrition commodities.
Key Stakeholders and Collaborative Efforts
The workshop was opened by Dr. Patrick Okumu Abok, Team Lead for the Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia. Dr. Okumu praised the collaborative efforts of multiple stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in successfully implementing nationwide digital health initiatives.
The assessment was funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), reaffirming the European Union’s commitment to Ethiopia’s health system strengthening and digital transformation goals. Additional partners included the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS), the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Results for Development (R4D), and the Dagu Task Force.
Assessment Findings: Functional Status and Impact of Dagu
The comprehensive nationwide assessment covered 251 public health facilities across Ethiopia. Key findings included:
- 63.7% of health facilities currently operate functional Dagu systems.
- These facilities demonstrated an 88.3% average availability rate for tracer medicines, a significant indicator of improved pharmaceutical availability.
- The system’s use led to better inventory management and enhanced decision-making processes for health commodity distribution.
Challenges Highlighted
Despite notable progress, the assessment identified several challenges impacting the optimal use of Dagu:
- Infrastructure limitations at some health facilities hindered smooth system operation.
- Intermittent internet access caused inconsistent data flow and system usage.
- Limited management engagement reduced accountability and performance monitoring.
- Human resource constraints such as lack of sufficient training and difficulties with staff retention.
The study underscored that facilities with trained pharmacy heads and reliable internet connectivity were significantly more likely to operate functional Dagu systems effectively.
Government Commitment and Strategic Vision
Teshome Deres, Senior Advisor to the State Minister of the Ministry of Health, reiterated the Ethiopian government’s strong dedication to digital health scale-up. He stated:
“This assessment reinforces what we’ve known—Dagu has the potential to transform our supply chain. But it also reminds us that sustainability requires more than just systems; it requires leadership, accountability, and integration. We are committed to working with our partners to ensure Dagu reaches its full potential across all health programs.”
Recommendations from the Workshop
Experts and stakeholders identified actionable steps to maximize the impact of Dagu and ensure its sustainability:
- Strengthening infrastructure and digital connectivity at all health facilities.
- Institutionalizing routine performance monitoring to enhance accountability and system utilization.
- Enhancing interoperability with other national health information systems such as DHIS2 and ERP.
- Introducing supportive legal frameworks to mandate system usage and promote data governance.
- Expanding Dagu coverage to include underrepresented health programs like the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and nutrition services.
Digital Health and Supply Chain Innovation in Ethiopia
The Dagu eLMIS platform is a vital part of Ethiopia’s broader digital health transformation, contributing to improved health outcomes by ensuring that medicines and essential health supplies are available where and when needed. The system supports transparency, accountability, and data-driven decision-making—key factors in creating a resilient and equitable health system.
Importance of Partnerships and Future Outlook
The successful implementation and ongoing enhancement of Dagu depend heavily on continued partnerships among government agencies, international donors, technical partners, and health facility staff. The workshop demonstrated the value of coordinated efforts, political will, and investment in digital infrastructure as Ethiopia moves toward a future where data innovation strengthens healthcare delivery.
Conclusion
As Ethiopia advances its digital health agenda, the Dagu platform stands as a beacon of progress in transforming health supply chains. The national dissemination workshop and assessment results affirm the country’s commitment to harnessing technology, data, and partnerships to build a more effective and equitable health system.
With sustained political commitment and focused implementation, Ethiopia’s journey toward an efficient, data-driven health supply chain will continue to improve access to medicines and health supplies, ultimately benefiting millions across the nation.
About the Dagu eLMIS
The electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS), known as Dagu, is a digital platform designed to manage logistics data in real-time for health commodities across Ethiopia. By digitizing inventory and supply chain processes, Dagu facilitates timely and accurate tracking of pharmaceutical stocks, reduces stockouts, and supports evidence-based decision-making at all levels of the health system.
Supporting Organizations
- World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia: Provides technical leadership and support for digital health initiatives.
- European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO): Financially supports health system strengthening projects.
- Ministry of Health, Ethiopia: Drives policy, implementation, and scale-up of digital health systems.
- Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS): Manages pharmaceutical procurement and distribution.
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI): Offers technical assistance for health system improvements.
- Results for Development (R4D): Supports health system strengthening and research.
- Dagu Task Force: Coordinates multi-stakeholder efforts for Dagu implementation.
Learn more about Ethiopia’s digital health strategy on the Ministry of Health official website.
Discover WHO’s role in health system strengthening at WHO Ethiopia.
Participants at the national dissemination workshop for the Dagu digital health supply chain platform in Addis Ababa, May 2025.
Visual representation of Ethiopia’s health supply chain supported by digital tools like Dagu.
Table of Contents
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Introduction to the Dagu eLMIS Platform | Overview of the Dagu system and its role in Ethiopia’s health supply chain |
| Key Stakeholders and Collaborative Efforts | Details of the workshop participants and funding partners |
| Assessment Findings: Functional Status and Impact of Dagu | Key results from the nationwide Dagu assessment |
| Challenges Highlighted | Infrastructure, internet, management, and human resource constraints |
| Government Commitment and Strategic Vision | Statements from Ministry of Health leadership on digital health scale-up |
| Recommendations from the Workshop | Actionable steps to strengthen Dagu and its coverage |
| Digital Health and Supply Chain Innovation in Ethiopia | Contextualizing Dagu within Ethiopia’s broader digital health transformation |
| Importance of Partnerships and Future Outlook | Role of multi-stakeholder collaboration and political will |
| Conclusion | Summary of Ethiopia’s progress and ongoing commitment |
| About the Dagu eLMIS | Detailed description of the eLMIS platform functionality |
| Supporting Organizations | List and roles of key partners and stakeholders |
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source: techafricanews.com
