Iraqis abroad to receive healthcare

Displaced Iraqis living in Egypt, Jordan and Syria should now be eligible to receive healthcare on the same basis as the indigenous population in these countries. Agreement was reached at a special ministerial consultation in Damascus on July 29 and 30, convened by the World Health Organisation.

More than two million Iraqis are estimated to be displaced, the majority of them living in Syria and Jordan, with substantial numbers also in Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and Turkey.

"This was an important meeting and a key commitment on the part of the host governments concerned," said Dr Hussein Gezairy, the World Health Organisation's regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region. "It means that displaced Iraqis are expected to be treated in the same way as the local population in getting access to healthcare."

The key point of discussion at the meeting was to how pay for treatment of displaced Iraqis. Host countries are currently covering most of the extra costs from their own limited budgets.

Key international organisation present at the meeting - including the Red Crescent, Red Cross and several United Nations organisations - promised their help in providing resources and trying to raise funds. "It is a huge commitment on the part of the host countries," said Dr Ala Alwan, the WHO's assistant director-general for Health Action in Crises. "There are very substantial extra costs involved.

"If equal access to health care is to be fully achieved, the international community and the Iraqi government must now respond by providing the necessary support.

"We made important progress at the consultation in agreeing practical measures to improve access but the implementation of these measures depends on the necessary resources being made available."

READERS' COMMENTS

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM