13. December 2006
„… and the poor will have to die…“
Dr. Rajaa al-Khuzai about medical care in Iraq
The situation is deteriorating day by day, just like the security. There is a shortage of medicine, equipments and, above all, qualified personnel is missing. Since the invasion of Iraq n single hospital has been built, they are all very old and there haven´t been any changes since 1984. The only thing which was done was painting the old buildings. They spent millions of dollars on it and when it rained, the whole paint fell off.
The cancer rate increased four to five times since the war in 1991, but cytotoxic drugs are short. Sometimes patients find the needed medicine in a private pharmacy for example, but this costs a lot. In fact the rich people travel abroad for their treatment while the poor will have to die.
There is no health care for women, no screening of breast cancer, and no cervical cancer screening. The most disappointing and sad is the large number of doctors who are leaving Iraq every day. The last UN report showed that more than 18.000 doctors left the country since 2003, and the number is increasing day by day.
And the other tragedy is that health professionals live at high risk – they fear murder, kidnappings and threats.
The long hours of no power, the road blockages, shortage of gas and the curfews also play a big role in the deterioration.
It is so sad that the government is not taking care of this life saving sector; they are too busy with the security problems.
Dr. Rajaa al-Khuzai, gynaecologist and Obstetrician studied in London. She came back to Baghdad in 1977. The active politician is member of several health committees like the Iraqi Health Committee, the Iraqi Family Planning and Reproductive Health Society.