PM Barzani highlights reforms and development in Kurdistan Region health sector
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani delivered a speech at the Health System Review, Analysis, and Reform Conference on Tuesday in Erbil.
In his speech, Barzani expressed his hope that this conference can devise practical recommendations to support the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) health sector reforms.
Senior officials and representatives of the World Health Organization attended the conference.
Barzani said that his ninth cabinet has undertaken a comprehensive reform process in various sectors and has taken concrete steps toward reforming the health sector, noting that the reform process is continuous and cannot be completed overnight.
The prime minister pointed out that the KRG has allocated more than 100 billion dinars (approximately $68.5 million) to combat the coronavirus.
He praised the Ministry of Health employees, including doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, who put their lives on the line to save people infected with COVID-19. He spoke with reverence for all those who sacrificed their own lives to fight the virus and offered his condolences to all families who lost loved ones.
Barzani said the reform process continues, and more important health projects will soon be completed in cooperation with partner countries. These projects include the inauguration of the German Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Coronavirus in Sulaimani city with the support of the German government.
Barzani also pointed to other projects, such as opening a center for cancer treatment with radiation (laser) in Erbil, a new children's hospital inside Erbil's Raparin Hospital compound, and a burn victim hospital. The foundation stone for a bone marrow transplant center was also laid in Duhok.
Completed projects include the Seidkan Hospital in Duhok, a breast cancer center Raparin Administrative district, and an eye hospital in Erbil.
Under construction projects include:
- A breast cancer center in Halabja province.
- The Hitot hospital complex between Shiladze and Deraluk in Duhok province.
- Bardarash General Hospital.
"We will do our best to improve the public health sector and provide the best health services to citizens, and we will work to develop a health insurance system in line with the situation of the Kurdistan Region," Barzani said.
The prime minister called on citizens to help improve the health system, as it is not the sole responsibility of the government to do so. He also urged the media to play a positive role in educating and encouraging people to protect themselves by following a healthy lifestyle.