Healthcare in Iraq: Difference between revisions

During itsthe last decade of Saddam Hussein's regime, the [[HistoryInternational ofsanctions against Iraq|regimeUnited Nations imposed sanctions on Iraq]], which greatly limited the importation of medicine and medical equiptmemt into Iraq, with some Iraqi hospitals unable to even hand out basic anti-biotics. During that period, [[Saddammaternal Husseinmortality]] cutincreased healthnearly funding by 90%threefold, contributingand tothe asalaries substantialof deteriorationmedical inpersonnel healthdecreased caredrastically.<ref name=cp>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Iraq.pdf Iraq country profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204033230/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Iraq.pdf |date=2010-12-04 }}. [[Library of Congress]] [[Federal Research Division]] (August 2006). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].''</ref> During that period, [[maternal mortality]] increased nearly threefold, and the salaries of medical personnel decreased drastically.<ref name=cp/> Medical facilities, which in 1980 were among the best in the Middle East, deteriorated.<ref name=cp/> Conditions were especially serious in the south, where [[malnutrition]] and [[water-borne disease]]s became common in the 1990s.<ref name=cp/> In 2005, the incidence of [[typhoid]], [[cholera]], [[malaria]], and [[tuberculosis]] was higher in Iraq than in comparable countries.<ref name=cp/> The [[Iraq War|conflict of 2003]] destroyed an estimated 12 percent of [[hospital]]s and Iraq's two main [[public health laboratories]].<ref name=cp/> In 2004, some improvements occurred.<ref name=cp/> Using substantial international funds, some 240 hospitals and 1,200 primary health centers were operating, shortages of some medical materials had been alleviated, the training of medical personnel had begun, and the [[inoculation]] of children was widespread.<ref name=cp/> However, [[sanitary conditions]] in hospitals remained unsatisfactory, trained personnel and medications were in short supply, and health care remained largely unavailable in regions where violent insurgency continued.<ref name=cp/> In 2005 there were 15 hospital beds, 6.3 [[physician|doctor]]s, and 11 [[nurse]]s per 10,000 peoplepopulation.<ref name=cp/> Plans called for US$1.5 billion of the national budget to be spent on health care in 2006.<ref name=cp/>

TheDuring costthe 1980s, Iraqi Healthcare had been free,<ref> [https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/imports/fileManager/Lancet%20paper%20Thamer.pdf "Health care services in Iraq"] University of admissionEdinburgh to</ref> abut publicas hospitalsanctions crippled Iraq, it was setchanged, atwith 500 dinarsDinars inbeing the 1980sadmission andfee hasinto notpublic been increased sincehospitals. This was supposed to cover the cost of all treatment. In February 2016, all public hospitals in Iraq began to charge patients for individual services. The healthcare budget for 2016 washas been cut by about 25%.<ref name="Diary">{{cite news|last1=McDonell|first1=Nick|title=Diary|url=http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n09/nick-mcdonell/diary|accessdate=2 May 2016|publisher=London Review of Books|date=5 May 2016}}</ref>

Various academic studies<ref>{{cite webjournal |url= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329842494|title= Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Displaced People in Iraq|last= Khaffaf|first= Eman|date= December 2018|websitevia= researchgate.orgResearchGate|publisherjournal= Kufa Journal for Nursing Sciences |access-date= 15 June 2019|quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite webjournal |url doi= https://psycnet10.apa.org1037/record/2016-03238-001trm0000062 | title= PTSD, depression, and anxiety among young people in Iraq one decade after the american invasion.|last= Freh |first= Mohammed |dateyear= 2016|website= APA PsycNET|publisher= Traumatology|access-datelast1=Freh 15 June 2019|quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |urlfirst1=Fuaad https://www.austinpublishinggroup.com/community-medicine/fulltext/jcmhc-v2-id1010.php|title= Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Youth in Iraq, Short Systemic ReviewsMohammed |last= al-Shawi|firstjournal=Traumatology Ameel|date= February 2017|websitevolume=22 austinpublishinggroup.com|publisher= Journal of Community Medicine And Healthcare |access-datepages=56–62 15 June 2019|quote=}}</ref> estimate that [[Iraqis]] have numerous untreated [[mental health]] issues, such as; [[Depression (mood)|depression]], [[bipolar disorder]], [[anxiety]], [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD alone affects between 20 and 60% of population aged 18 and above), whose cause can be traced to Saddam's human rights abuses, as well as greatly accelerating due to the aftermath of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and the overall consequences of the [[Iraqi War]] such as violence, terrorism, displacement and low socio-economic status.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.middleeasteye.net/features/iraqs-growing-mental-health-crisis|title= Iraq's growing mental health crisis|last= |first= |date= 2017-01-23|website= middleeasteye.net|publisher= Middle East Eye|access-date= 15 June 2019|quote=}}</ref>