31 March 2015 – In view of the mounting challenges facing the health system in Iraq, including an influx of over 2.5 million internally displaced persons, availability of staff in health facilities affected by terrorist incidents and the funding constraints of the health sector, a major step has been taken by the Ministry of Health to formulate the national health policy of Iraq and respond to national health priorities identified by the New Iraqi Government Programme.
To achieve this objective, a 4-day workshop was conducted in Istanbul, Turkey from 1 to 4 March 2015. The workshop was attended by high-level officials from the Iraqi Parliament, Council of Ministers, Federal and Kurdistan region Ministries of Health, leaders of the central health sector institutions, Health Directorates, Professional Associations for Physicians, Pharmacists and Dentists and other key stakeholders of the health sector.
The workshop, technically facilitated by WHO, analysed the current state of health in Iraq and discussed pressing national health priorities and the health mandates of the new Government to finalize Iraqi national health policy.
Dr Isam Namiq, Deputy Minister of Health of Iraq, presented Iraq's health vision for Iraq to guide the discussion and overall deliverables. The conceptual framework and prerequisite for universal health coverage and how national health policy could deliver this to the Iraqi population over the next decade were discussed.
The current Government has placed the health agenda high on the development framework declaring an ambitious 10 objectives health programme for implementation during its constitutional term.
A task force has been formed comprising representatives from the Ministries of Health, Higher Education, Finance, Planning, and representatives from governorates to review and finalize the policy document by April/May 2015 and present it to the Ministry of Health and Health and Environment Committee in the Parliament to affect the approval process.
A high-level consensus-building meeting on the national health policy document has been further scheduled to take place in Iraq during the second half of 2015.
Related links
Framework for action on advancing universal health coverage in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Read more on universal health coverage
For further information, please contact:
Ms Ajyal Sultany
Communications Officer
WHO Iraq Office
+964 7510 101 469
Ms Pauline Ajello
Communications and Donors’ Relations Officer
WHO Iraq Office
+9647809288618
