Sulaimani Health Director issues stern warning to doctors abandoning public hospital duties

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Dr. Sabah Hawrami, Director General of Sulaimani Health, issued a strong warning to medical professionals who abandon their public hospital duties for private practice, emphasizing that such actions could result in severe legal consequences.

"Any doctor with medical ethics should not abandon patient care for financial gain," Hawrami declared during a press conference. "If a single patient dies due to a doctor's absence from their post, I will personally be the first to file a legal complaint."

In a detailed Facebook post following the press conference, Hawrami emphasized the critical difference between medical services and other sectors. "While absenteeism in other institutions might only cause delays, in healthcare it can cost lives," he stated.

The health director specifically addressed the issue of doctors prioritizing private practice over public hospital duties: "It's unacceptable for doctors to spend nights on social media and then decide to abandon their hospital duties, leaving poor patients who cannot afford private healthcare without proper medical attention."

Hawrami highlighted the government's substantial investment in medical education and warned that strict measures would be taken against doctors who leave their public hospital duties, regardless of salary delays or other excuses, to work in private facilities.

"The medical profession is unique, and the government invests significantly in training doctors," Hawrami explained. "Abandoning duties when patients are in need is inexcusable and puts lives at risk. Any doctor considering such actions will face severe penalties."

The announcement comes amid growing concerns about healthcare accessibility for economically disadvantaged patients in the Kurdistan Region's public health sector.