Iraq Seeks International Partnerships to Modernize Healthcare Sector

Health Minister Abdul Hussein Aziz Al-Mousawi said on Tuesday that the ministry is open to initiatives aimed at developing Iraq’s healthcare sector and strengthening international cooperation to secure high-quality medicines, particularly for cancer patients.

Speaking at the French Health Forum in Baghdad, Al-Mousawi highlighted major challenges facing the healthcare system, including limited hospital capacity and outdated infrastructure. He noted that the current number of hospital beds meets only slightly more than one-third of the country’s actual needs, while approximately 80–85% of existing healthcare facilities were established in the early 1980s, when Iraq’s population stood at around 14 million, compared with approximately 46 million today.

The minister stressed the need to accelerate healthcare infrastructure development, improve the capabilities of medical institutions, and benefit from international expertise and modern technologies to enhance the quality of services provided to citizens.

The forum aims to strengthen healthcare partnerships between Iraq and France, explore investment opportunities, facilitate the transfer of expertise and technology, and promote the localization of advanced healthcare technologies in Iraq.