Wollega University Institute of Health Science was established in year 2000 E.C as Faculty of Health Science with 9 academic staff and few support staffs. The faculty was established by launching four programs namely; nursing, environmental health, public health and medical laboratory. Later on environmental health was closed and students were made to shift to public health department. Few months before the establishment of the faculty, the foundation of Wollega University Referral Hospital was laid on Since 19/1999 E.C by H.E. Abba Dula Gemeda, the former President of Oromia National Regional State and the former Speaker of house of people representative to address the west oromia Complaint and health Problem.
The nomenclature given to the hospital at that time was Wollega Referral Hospital. It was constructed by Oromia Regional Health bureau and the construction started 1year after the establishment of faculty of health Science in year 2001E.C. The hospital was constructed by the MH. Engineering together with Oromia Water construction Enterprise. It was designed to serve 5 million catchment population.
The hospital is built on 1.8 Square Kilometer (Km2),. One hundred fifteen Million six hundred ninety-seven thousand eight hundred eighty-eight and fifty-seven Ethiopian birr (115, 697, 888.57 ETB) was invested to complete construction. The construction of the hospital took 9 years to complete
The faculty developed to College of Medical and health Science since 2005 E.C. after opening different under and post graduate programs including Midwifery in year 2003, Medicine in year 2004 and Master of Public health in weakened programs. Later on the college stepped up to institute of Health sciences after it owned the referral hospital and approved the current structure. The hospital owning process was started by the time the former and the first Wollega University President, Professor Fikandu Beyene established Hospital Organizing Taskforce in 2008 E.C. The task force, had 7members namely, Dr. Dessalegn Wirtu the chairperson of the task force, Dr. Temesegen Tilahun, Mr. Dejeje Chala, Mr. Dereje Duressa, Mr. Melese Chego, Mr. Isak Raga and Mr. Yosef Tsegaye.
Accordingly, the taskforce accomplished remarkable activities in the period of two years and some of the Major activities accomplished by the taskforce include; Communicated different concerned bodies on how to own the hospital including Regional health bureau and Chafe Oromia, Communicated Ministry of Health for material procurement, Prepared Hospital management guideline, Prepared and Approved Hospital Structure, Handed over hospital to Wollega University after intensive discussion of Zonal administration and Oromiya regional Health bureau with west ormiya community and approved by Chafe oromiya.
Moreover, the committee was actively involved in hospital construction finishing work and did the following activities, water and electric system construction, room partition, Placenta pit construction, Waste disposal construction, beautification and planting inside the compound, procuring hospital equipments, recruiting human resources.
Short before the hospital inauguration, the former Wollega University President, Dr. Eba Mijena, assigned positions to the newly owned hospital. Accordingly, Dr. Temesgen Tilahun became the first Chief Executive Director, Dr. Dessalegn Wirtu became the first Chief Aadminstration and Development director and Dr. Abaya Merga became the first Chief Clicinal Director of the newly owned Hospital.
The hospital inauguration ceremony made on Ginbot 03/09/2009 E.C. in the presence of H.E. Honorary Dr. Lemma Megersa the former President of Oromia National Regional State and the current Defense Minister of the country together with other Oromia National Regional State higher officials and Federal Ministers including Dr. Dereje Duguma, the Oromia Regional Health bureau, Her Excellency Mrs. Demitu Hambisa the former Women and Child Minister and H.E. Dr. Negeri Lencho, the former Minister of communication of Ethiopia.