Vision, Family, and Medical Care: The Journey From a Chinese Doctor to an Ethiopian Hospital Owner

BY LEAH LI

 Silk Road General Hospital. Xinhua Net.

In 2006–2007, Yun Fang’s husband, a surgeon, came to Ethiopia as a medical volunteer. As a result of seeing a strong medical need and a more flexible medical regulatory environment, in 2008, they both decided to leave their positions at public hospitals in China to move to Addis Ababa. They first started with Afei Diagnosis Center, and in 2019, they expanded it and established Silk Road General Hospital. Silk Road General Hospital was developed with a medical team of international professionals from more than 10 countries, including China, the United States, Russia, South Korea, and Ethiopia. This hospital has become a leading healthcare service provider in the East African country, conducted Africa's first advanced vein care and treatment, and received the Great Place To Work Certification for three consecutive years. This accomplishment, however, is not possible without years of hard work, as Dr. Fang elaborates.     

Dr. Yun Fang. Dr. Fang.

Providing the best possible medical care in the region, supported by a world-class medical team and cutting-edge medical technologies, their approach combined international expertise with localized care. During the COVID-19 period, Silk Road General Hospital became one of the top centers for COVID-19 treatment in all of Eastern Africa, because of the exceptional care it offers with its highly skilled international medical team and one of the strictest medical management standards in the region. 

However, their journey would not be without challenges. The cultural differences in medical practices and expectations, and Ethiopia’s still developing healthcare system, would both prove as obstacles testing Silk Road General Hospital’s integrity and dedication. As a result, Silk Road General Hospital invested heavily in training local doctors and nurses to raise the standard of care. 

As a female entrepreneur, Dr. Fang would see challenges in her journey different from her husband. As a traditional Chinese woman and a mother of two, she naturally took on more domestic responsibilities. In order to care for her family, she had to step away from management and focus solely on her role as a radiologist for a period. However, as a female, she was also able to pay attention to more details, such as the staff’s well-being and patients’ experiences. With this care and empathy, Dr. Fang felt that many of the long-term staff were “like family” to them.

Throughout the challenges and choices in Silk Road General Hospital’s journey, Dr. Fang learned to approach everything calmly with a balanced mindset. “Entrepreneurship is filled with ups and downs,” Dr. Fang notes in Chinese, “and emotional stability is crucial.” “You need a strong heart,” she advises, “entrepreneurship is more unpredictable and challenging, testing your foresight, organizational skills, leadership, and emotional resilience. You need to be fearless. I’ve been lucky to have a husband who supports me and shares this journey with me.”