17/12/2025
Ethiopia launches first specialised TMS therapy for depression
Ethiopia has launched its first specialised programme offering Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy, a non-invasive treatment for depression, at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. College Provost Dr Muluken Tesfaye described it as a significant step forward for mental health care.
At the inauguration ceremony, Dr Muluken said TMS therapy reflects growing investment in mental health and could expand access to treatment for thousands across Ethiopia.
Dr Muluken added that, as a Center of Excellence in Neuro-Modulation Therapies, the programme brings together cutting-edge technology, specialised expertise and evidence-based care to deliver innovative treatment options and improve patient outcomes. He explained that neuro-modulation therapies are advanced, non-invasive techniques designed to regulate neural activity, helping to treat a wide range of mental health conditions and neurological disorders, while also supporting the enhancement of cognitive functions.
The service is aimed at patients who do not respond to standard therapies such as medication or psychotherapy. TMS works by sending targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain areas, offering new hope for treatment-resistant depression.
The programme is supported by GIZ Hospital Partnerships, BMZ, and the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung, with MAG & More GmbH providing the TMS device and technical support.
The launch follows advanced training in Germany for SPHMMC staff at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU in Munich. Those trained include Dr Surafel Worku, Country Lead for the BEAM Project, and Dr Meskerem Abebe, Head of Psychiatry at SPHMMC.