Duhok Expands Public Healthcare as 70% Rely on State Services

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - More than 70 percent of Duhok residents rely on public healthcare services, according to the governorate's Director General of Health, as the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) expands hospital capacity and invests in specialized treatment.

Dr. Afrasiab Musa said the latest phase of that expansion includes the planned transformation of Semel Hospital into a 300-bed general teaching hospital, a move intended to increase access to treatment while strengthening the training of medical professionals.

The figures underline the central role of the public sector in Duhok's healthcare system, where demand has continued to grow alongside investments in hospitals, medical equipment, medicines and specialized services.

Semel Hospital Set for Major Expansion

Speaking to Kurdistan24, Musa said the health directorate had signed a contract with an international company to expand Semel Hospital and transform it from an emergency facility into a full general teaching hospital.

"We have signed a contract with an international company to expand Semel Hospital, transforming it from an emergency facility into a modern, 300-bed general teaching hospital," Musa said.

The project is being fully financed by the KRG, according to the director general, and is expected to serve tens of thousands of people while providing a training environment for hundreds of medical and nursing students.

The expansion reflects a broader effort to increase public-sector capacity rather than concentrating healthcare services in Duhok city alone.

Since 2020, approximately 550 hospital beds have been added across the governorate, Musa said, expanding the system's ability to accommodate patients and reduce pressure on existing facilities.

Cancer Care Remains a Major Priority

The expansion of general healthcare has been accompanied by increased spending on specialized services, particularly cancer treatment.

Musa said the KRG allocates more than 305 billion Iraqi dinars annually for medicines and medical supplies at Duhok's Omid Cancer Hospital, highlighting the scale of the resources required to maintain specialized treatment.

The governorate has also expanded oncology capacity in recent years. A renovated facility opened in 2025 as a 160-bed cancer treatment center, featuring six operating rooms, diagnostic services and intensive-care capacity.

Across the Kurdistan Region, government figures have indicated that more than 285 billion dinars was spent on cancer medicines between 2020 and the end of 2023, while officials said roughly 90 percent of treatment needs at cancer centers were being provided locally.

These investments have accompanied a broader expansion of public healthcare infrastructure across the Region. KRG figures published in 2023 recorded 83 public hospitals, more than 8,000 public-sector beds and 1,470 health centers.

Services Expand Beyond Major Cities

Duhok's healthcare expansion has also reached more remote communities.

The Shorsh-Hetit Public Hospital in Deralok was inaugurated in October 2025 after an investment exceeding $43 million. Officials said the hospital was designed to serve more than 250,000 people in Amedi and surrounding areas.

The KRG has also continued to invest in medical equipment. In February 2026, Duhok's Health Directorate announced a 5.1 billion-dinar allocation for new equipment, including an MRI system and lithotripsy machines.

Musa said, however, that additional infrastructure remains necessary. He called on the KRG to resume work on the Bardarash Hospital project, describing its location as strategically important for Akre and neighboring districts.

The project, he argued, would help address healthcare needs in communities located away from Duhok's main urban center.

Health Challenges Extend Beyond Hospitals

Musa also raised concerns over changing patterns of illness among younger people.

He pointed to an increase in heart attacks among young people, linking the trend to irregular sleep, staying up late, lifestyle changes, smoking and hookah use.

He noted that 46.6 percent of the population in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region is under the age of 18, meaning health challenges affecting younger people could have significant long-term consequences.

The warning points to a broader challenge for the healthcare system: expanding hospitals and treatment capacity while also addressing preventable risk factors through public-health awareness and earlier intervention.

Building Capacity for a Growing Public Sector

Duhok's latest healthcare investments come as public hospitals remain the primary source of medical care for most residents.

During the first four years of the KRG's Ninth Cabinet, officials said 13 new hospitals were built, while dozens of health centers and laboratories were constructed or renovated. Public intensive-care capacity also expanded, reaching 337 ICU beds, while the government introduced measures aimed at regulating medicine prices and strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains.

For Duhok, the planned Semel expansion represents another step in that broader trajectory.

The challenge, however, extends beyond adding buildings and beds. A public healthcare network serving more than 70 percent of the population requires sustained funding for medicines, specialized equipment, doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.

As Semel moves toward becoming a teaching hospital and proposals such as Bardarash remain on the agenda, Duhok's health authorities are seeking to build a system capable of meeting both immediate demand and the governorate's longer-term healthcare needs.