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The Lancet. Health services in Iraq
[Source: The Lancet, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
The Lancet, Volume 381, Issue 9870, Pages 939 - 948, 16 March 2013
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60320-7
Health services in Iraq
Prof Thamer Kadum Al Hilfi MBChB a, Prof Riyadh Lafta MBChB b, Prof Gilbert Burnham MD c
Summary
After decades of war, sanctions, and occupation, Iraq's health services are struggling to regain lost momentum. Many skilled health workers have moved to other countries, and young graduates continue to leave. In spite of much rebuilding, health infrastructure is not fully restored. National development plans call for a realignment of the health system with primary health care as the basis. Yet the health-care system continues to be centralised and focused on hospitals. These development plans also call for the introduction of private health care as a major force in the health sector, but much needs to be done before policies to support this change are in place. New initiatives include an active programme to match access to health services with the location and needs of the population.
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a Department of Community Medicine, Al Kindy College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq; b Department of Community Medicine, Al Munstansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq; c Department of International Health, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
Correspondence to: Prof Gilbert Burnham, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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The Lancet, Volume 381, Issue 9870, Pages 939 - 948, 16 March 2013
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60320-7
Health services in Iraq
Prof Thamer Kadum Al Hilfi MBChB a, Prof Riyadh Lafta MBChB b, Prof Gilbert Burnham MD c
Summary
After decades of war, sanctions, and occupation, Iraq's health services are struggling to regain lost momentum. Many skilled health workers have moved to other countries, and young graduates continue to leave. In spite of much rebuilding, health infrastructure is not fully restored. National development plans call for a realignment of the health system with primary health care as the basis. Yet the health-care system continues to be centralised and focused on hospitals. These development plans also call for the introduction of private health care as a major force in the health sector, but much needs to be done before policies to support this change are in place. New initiatives include an active programme to match access to health services with the location and needs of the population.
_________
a Department of Community Medicine, Al Kindy College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq; b Department of Community Medicine, Al Munstansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq; c Department of International Health, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
Correspondence to: Prof Gilbert Burnham, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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