Kurdistan Region health centers draw millions of patients from across Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – More than 15 million patients visit health centers and government hospitals in the Kurdistan Region annually. 30% to 40% of those patients are from southern and central Iraq, according to health officials.

One such patient, Jassim Fatlaw, a resident of Karbala, southern Iraq, shared his story with Kurdistan24. He explained that his wife had sought medical treatment from various doctors and hospitals in their home region without success. Ultimately, they decided to bring her to Erbil, where she underwent successful surgery.

The Kurdistan Region is home to 135 public and private hospitals, along with 47 health centers. These facilities are staffed by over 7,000 doctors and 22,000 nurses who provide crucial healthcare services to the growing number of patients seeking treatment. The region’s hospitals can accommodate more than 11,000 patients and operate 24-hour services.

Sarkar Surchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), told Kurdistan24 that the ministry allocates more than 23 billion Iraqi dinars annually to the health sector. "We have managed to provide some very rare and specialized medications to hospitals in the region under the current government’s ninth cabinet, which has significantly reduced the burden on patients," Surchi said.

As the Kurdistan Region continues to expand its healthcare infrastructure, it is becoming a major hub for patients across Iraq, particularly from the south and central regions.

Additional reporting by Kurdistan24 Erbil Reporter Azar Faruq