Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed that the government is taking measures and implementing structural reforms in the health system.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Sudani inaugurated the Internal Security Forces Hospital in central Baghdad, a facility with a capacity of 126 beds, on Monday evening.

During the opening ceremony, al-Sudani congratulated the Ministry of Interior, its personnel, and their families on the establishment of this new medical facility. He acknowledged the careful construction and modern equipment that ensure the hospital provides top-tier medical and healthcare services. The Prime Minister also highlighted the efforts that led to the completion of this important medical facility, which had been stalled since 2009.

Al-Sudani emphasized the government’s challenge of inheriting 2,582 stalled and suspended projects, affirming the commitment to overcome these obstacles and complete them for the benefit of the Iraqi people. He recognized the dedication of ministerial, advisory, and provincial teams in addressing these projects’ shortcomings and errors.

The Prime Minister noted the health sector as a government priority, mentioning that the Internal Security Forces Hospital is the 20th hospital opened during his government’s term. He reported that the number of beds in the health system is intended to increase from 47,000 to 60,000 as work progresses on multiple hospital projects.

Al-Sudani announced plans to inaugurate Al-Fadhiliya Hospital in Baghdad and highlighted ongoing work on 16 hospital projects, each with 100 beds, at the district level across various governorates. He also discussed the implementation of the Health Insurance Law, which currently covers 2.3 million citizens, and emphasized a joint management model for hospitals to enhance services and expertise.

Furthermore, al-Sudani shared the government’s initiative to localize the pharmaceutical industry, increasing the percentage of locally produced medicines from 10% to 40%, with a goal of reaching 82% by 2027. He attributed the security establishment’s sacrifices to the country’s current stability, allowing for the launch of service projects and national development.