Iraq's Ministry of Health renews commitment to primary health system

Experts who led discussions surrounding the major obstacles and opportunities in Iraq included Dr Hassan Al Kazzaz, Director General of Public Health Directorate at Ministry of Health Iraq; Jamila Zgayeir Latfa, Head of Department of Pharmacy from the Ministry of Health;, Alaa AbdulHussain, Chairman of the National Board of Drug Selection, and Dr Sayed Jaffer Hussein, Mission Director for Iraq from the World Health Organisation.

These two days form part of the Ministry of Health's effort to renew and escalate progress towards fulfilling health-related MDGs. The Minister promised to address his department's strategic plans to strengthen different aspects of primary health, and the ongoing programmes that will ensure all Iraqi citizens have access to quality healthcare.

"Primary health is the cornerstone of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - and the Ministry is working towards strengthening the domains of integrated and comprehensive health services to support the primary health system," confirmed HE Dr Majeed Hamad Amin, Minister of Health of Iraq during the lead up to the Iraq Health Summit, which began yesterday in Erbil.

"I would like to acknowledge the efforts of all government and non-government institutions, including naseba, for arranging this important meeting," enthused Senior Deputy Minister of Health, HE Dr Esam Namiq.

AstraZeneca, global and innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company and a summit platinum sponsor, shaped the day's pharmaceutical programme. Attending delegates discussed the importance of the healthcare system and the role that multinational companies can play in the successful future of the region's pharmaceutical sector - as well as what AstraZeneca plans to achieve for the progress of healthcare in Iraq.

Pharma companies GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Takeda, Dar Al Dawa and Apotex were also in attendance.

Summit sponsor Masimo conducted a workshop on the need to overcome blood transfusion challenges and increase patient safety. "Iraq's healthcare market should be one of the biggest in the Middle East. We are aiming to improve patient safety and reduce the cost of care," said Mohammad Al-Sharif, Masimo's Area Manager for the Middle East.

Hosted by French business information group naseba, the platform enabled government authorities and regional hospitals to meet with global solution providers, share innovations and discuss business.

"This initiative has been specifically designed to facilitate learning and networking - and create a greater understanding of the latest healthcare challenges being faced by Iraq. We look forward to working for the betterment of healthcare in the country and the region," concluded Fabien Faure, naseba's Healthcare Series Director.

The summit will continue through today with a special educational emphasis on the revolutionary shift from curative to preventive health, and the strategic plan for health IT systems implementation.