In this public talk, Dr Rocco Friebel of the GSPU and Dr Mohamed Abdi Hergeye, the Director General of the Ministry of Health Development in Somaliland discussed the challenges of creating adequate health policies in Somaliland, a self-declared country that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region in the Horn of Africa.
The health care situation in Somaliland, like many aspects of its governance, is marked by significant challenges and resilience in the face of limited resources. While Somaliland has made notable progress in establishing a functioning health care system under challenging conditions, significant gaps and needs remain. Addressing these effectively requires continued and strategic investment in health care infrastructure, professional training, public health programs, and international cooperation. Dr Hergeye will join our conversation about his role in shaping health policy and the future of health care in Somaliland.
Meet our speaker and chair
Dr Mohamed Abdi Hergeye (MBBS) – Director General
Dr. Hergeye is currently serving as the Director General of the Ministry of Health Development (MoHD) in Somaliland, a position he has held for nearly six years. He was appointed by the President in 2018 and serves as the lead operational manager for the Ministry. Dr. Hergeye is a medical doctor by profession and also teaches at Hargeisa University, focusing on infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis. Dr Hergeye earned his medical degree in Sudan and has a great understanding of the health sector across the region.
Prior to his current role, Dr. Hergeye began his career as a physician in 2008 and has worked in both the public and private sectors in Somaliland. He has also served as the Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) coordinator for the entire country and the lead coordinator at the TB referral hospital in Hargeisa. From 2010 to 2012, he was appointed as the Board secretary for the Somaliland Medical Association.
As the Director General, Dr. Hergeye's primary responsibilities include coordinating health interventions and efforts with other ministries and departments under the MoHD, developing and reviewing policies related to the core activities of the ministry, undertaking high-level reviews, projects and investigations across the activity areas of the ministry, providing advice to directors on matters related to ministry operations and policy, monitoring and reviewing the performance of the ministry against the agreed objectives and activities outlined in the departmental work plan, and ensuring that departments adhere to policies within their allocated budgets. In addition, Dr Hergeye is the Chair of multi-stakeholder steering committees with international health partners such as Global Fund, Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, World Bank and many more.
Dr Rocco Friebel
Rocco Friebel is a trained Health Economist, currently serving as Director of the Global Surgery Policy Unit (partnership between the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Royal College of Surgeons of England), Deputy Director of LSE Health, Programme Director of the Executive MSc in Healthcare Decision-Making, and Assistant Professor of Health Policy in the Department of Health Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is the Editor in Chief of Health Economics, Policy and Law (Cambridge University Press) and leads the European Health Policy Group. His primary research interests are the economics of health system delivery, particularly in the areas of patient safety, quality of care, and regulation.
More about this event
This event is hosted by the Global Surgery Policy Unit at LSE Health. The GSPU is a unique and strategic collaboration between the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the London School of Economics and Political Science. Established to advance global public health, surgical and anaesthesia care, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries, the Unit aims to increase access to safe, affordable, high-quality surgery, to improve public health, patient safety and population health outcomes.
LSE Health (@LSEHealthPolicy) is a world-leading multidisciplinary research centre with over 20 years of experience advancing global research in health policy and health economics.
Hashtag #somalilandhealth