Muqdam Al-Shaibani is a researcher in economic affairs and a member of the Iraqi Economists Association.
The Iraqi health sector is of great importance because it is directly and affectively related to the wellbeing of Iraqi citizens, it provides health care to them, which is one of the basic human rights guaranteed by the constitution and international covenants. Achieving this is linked to government policies, as achieving the desired development is linked to the fulfillment of a number of conditions, which we will discuss in detail later. This article analyzes the reality of the health sector in Iraq by reviewing a number of indicators and stating the number of challenges facing the sector, which prevent it from fulfilling its desired goals.
First: Infrastructures:
Primary health care:
These are the basic, integrated and comprehensive services provided in the preventive and curative fields through primary health care centers and other health institutions; For the purpose of improving the health of the individual and society, especially the health of mothers and children, and it includes:
- 2805 primary health care centers.
- Primary health care centers (main) 1298 centers.
- Primary health care centers (subsidiary)1516 centers.
- A major health center for every 14,314 people.
Secondary and Tertiary Health Care:
- Number of government hospitals and specialized centers that have beds = 295
- The number of private hospitals = 155.
- The number of government total beds = 49825.
- Number of government prepared beds without emergency beds = 40825.
- The occupancy rate of the beds prepared to operate = 54.4%.
- Average bed/1000 people = 1.2.
Second: Health Human Resources:
Indications:
The number of human cadres working in the health field = 346,920.
(Kurdistan Region and those affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education included).
The number of human cadres working in the Ministry of Health = 295,269.
(Except for the Kurdistan Region and those affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education).
The total number of doctors = 38,865.
Average doctor/1000 people = 9.68.
The number of specialist doctors in the Kurdistan region and those affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education = 14266.
The number of doctors affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education = 1472.
Number of dentists = 14003.
Average dentist/10000 people = 3.49.
The number of pharmacists = 16512.
Pharmacist rate/10000 = 4.11.
The number of nursing staff = 89,990.
The ratio of nursing staff/doctor = 2.3.
Nursing cadre/10000 people = 22.4.
The number of health professionals = 90,327.
The rate of health professionals/10000 people = 22.50.
