The Iraqi Ministry of Health (MOH) is making great strides by structuring a comprehensive healthcare system that is financially sound and assures quality care that is accessible, affordable and available regardless of ethnicity, geographic origin, gender or religious affiliation; and a healthcare system that is self-sustaining for the future.
Pre-conflict
Saddam Hussein’s regime provided only $16 million for the Ministry of Health in 2002 (less than $1.00 per person).
The Iraqi medical system severely lacked modern equipment and medical capabilities.
Doctor?s pre-conflict salaries were approximately $20 per month.
Post Conflict
Since liberation, the country has not faced a major public health crisis.
Iraq’s 2004 budget for health care is $950 million ? a $934 million increase over 2002.
The entire country is at pre-war capabilities for providing health care - 240 Iraqi hospitals and more than 1,200 primary health centers are operating.
Doctors’ salaries have increased to between $120 per month and $180 per month, up from $20 per month pre-conflict.
Three Facility Protective Services classes have trained over 1,300 personnel to protect healthcare facilities.
The Ministry of Health has completed a $1.7 million headquarters refurbishment project.
More than 30 million doses of children’s vaccinations have been procured and distributed. Also, the Ministry has received grants to immunize the country’s 4.2 million children under the age of five against preventable diseases such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, and tuberculosis (70% have been inoculated to-date).
More than 700,000 pregnant women have received a tetanus toxiod vaccine to improve the quality of maternal healthcare.
Since May 24, the Ministry of Health has delivered more than 25,000 tons of pharmaceuticals and supplies to healthcare facilities across Iraq.
The Mosul Tuberculosis Center was rehabilitated, as well as the Mosul General Hospital, the Basrah General Hospital Burn Unit, and the Primary Health Directorate Building.
Thirty-five small grants, worth almost $2 million, have been awarded to support Iraqi NGO healthcare efforts throughout Iraq.
The MOH spent $40 million on purchase and installation of 128 generators and uninterruptible power supply systems, as well as the refurbishment of ten additional generators.
Approximately $5 million of laboratory equipment and supplies provided the foundation to re-establish the Central Public Health Laboratory in Baghdad, National Center of Drug Control and Research, the Nutritional Research Institute, and regional and governorate public health laboratories.
National Drug Formulary for Iraq: This new purchasing structure will facilitate the arrival of treatments virtually non-existent under the old regime. This includes top-tier cancer drugs and many other progressive pharmaceuticals. It will also improve the sourcing of drugs, resulting in better quality and better health outcomes.
Future plans
Continued focus on the rehabilitation of existing hospitals and primary health centers. To that point, the CPA, in cooperation with USAID, is continuing to re-equip 600 facilities throughout Iraq to provide essential primary healthcare services. These locations will receive medical supply kits distributed by MOH/USAID partner Abt Associates. The $4,500 kit stocks clinics with state-of-the-art equipment and basic clinical supplies.
The continued decentralization of healthcare.
Further support for critical maternal and child health programs.
Significant progress towards cutting the infant mortality in half by the end of 2005.
Continued development of community health and mental health programs.
Growing public health programs, including clean water, nutrition, and disease surveillance.
Working with healthcare officials to increase professional training in both clinical and management settings.