Even Saddam had a Health Service

From Inter Press Service 23/11BAGHDAD, Nov 23 (IPS) -

After three and a half years of occupation, Iraq's medical system has sunk to levels lower than seen during the economicsanctions imposed after the first Gulf war in 1990. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said Iraqis are now extremelyvulnerable in their health needs. "Several wars and 13 years of economic sanctions left a heavy toll on thenutrition of the population, on the social structure, on the economy and onthe health infrastructure and services," according to a statement on the WHOwebsite. "This is well depicted in the morbidity and mortality rates of thepopulation of Iraq, particularly of infants, children and mothers. Themajority of Iraqis completely depend on the food Public Distribution Systemfor their nutritional requirements." The health situation in Iraq has been in constant decline since thebeginning of the U.S.-backed UN-imposed sanctions in 1990. Iraqi doctorswere reputed to be the best in the Middle East during the 1980's, but nowthey are short of medicines, medical equipment and funding to maintain thehospitals. "We were angry with Saddam's government for the poor health situation in thecountry, but now we wish we could get that back," 55-year-old teacher AhmedZaydan from Sadr City in Baghdad told IPS. "There was not enough medicalcare, but there was something that one could live with and the privatesector market was cheap. We were hoping for the change of regime to improveour lives, but the result is that we practically have no governmenthealthcare." Saddam Hussein's regime managed to keep basic medical services free ofcharge for most Iraqis until the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. There wasa hospital in almost every town. Surgeries were carried out free of charge.Medicines were imported by the government and sold at affordable prices tothose going to private clinics and hospitals. The Ministry of Health is now controlled by Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr'smovement under a political agreement between the ruling parties. Thesectarian influence on the ministry has greatly impeded healthcare. "The ministry office in Baghdad is under the control of ignorant people whoknow nothing about medical science," a doctor told IPS. "The whole ministryis controlled by clerics who brought their militiamen along to divert theministry into a death squad headquarters. Many of my colleagues resigned,were expelled or abducted by those who should have provided protection forthem. Others quit and left the country." The independent Iraq Medical Association (IMA) announced earlier this monththat the healthcare system has continued to deteriorate and lacks adequatequalified staff and equipment. The IMA estimates that 90 percent of thenearly 180 hospitals countrywide lack essential resources. "Our hospitals look more like barns with lack of electric power, medicines,equipment and now doctors and surgeons because of the corrupt managers whocare for nothing but filling their pockets with false contract money andconducting sectarian killings against doctors and patients," a doctor from ahospital in Baghdad told IPS. "I personally have been able to stay with myjob only because I am from the favoured sect and my cousin is a ruling partymember." The IMA announced this month that of 34,000 Iraqi physicians registeredprior to 2003, over half have fled the country, and that at least 2,000 havebeen killed. Two months ago the Iraqi Islamic Party announced that its candidate fordeputy health minister was abducted from inside the minister's office. "Dr.Ali al-Mehdawi is still in the hands of his kidnappers, and we are notcertain of his safety," a senior Islamic Party member told IPS. Despite more than a billion dollars claimed to have been spent by the U.S.on Iraq's healthcare system, health needs are one of the biggest problemsfor Iraqis under the occupation. There appears to be no quick solution tothis worsening situation. Apparent corruption has made the crisis worse. Earlier this year a 200million dollar reconstruction project for building 142 primary care centresran out of cash with just 20 on course for completion, a situation the WHOdescribed as "shocking." The Iraqi government estimates that 8 billion dollars is needed over thenext four years to fund the ailing healthcare system. The campaign group Medact has reported that in Iraq "easily treatableconditions such as diarrhoea and respiratory illness caused 70 percent ofall child deaths," and "of the 180 health clinics the U.S. hoped to build bythe end of 2005, only four have been completed -- and none opened."