title: Health services in Iraq.
abstract: After decades of war, sanctions, and occupation, Iraq's health services are struggling to regain lost momentum. Many skilled health workers have moved to other countries, and young graduates continue to leave. In spite of much rebuilding, health infrastructure is not fully restored. National development plans call for a realignment of the health system with primary health care as the basis. Yet the health-care system continues to be centralised and focused on hospitals. These development plans also call for the introduction of private health care as a major force in the health sector, but much needs to be done before policies to support this change are in place. New initiatives include an active programme to match access to health services with the location and needs of the population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Al Kindy College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Thamer Kadum
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Al Hilfi
authors.forename: Riyadh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lafta
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burnham
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006291:Health Policy; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000639:trends; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians; D011057:Politics; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D011634:Public Health