Bush discusses improvements with interim health minister December 15
President Bush met with the Iraqi Interim Minister of Health, Dr. Khudair Abbas, and six other Iraqi physicians at the White House December 15 to discuss improvements in Iraq's health services since the fall of the Ba'athist regime.
In remarks with Dr. Abbas and Iraqi Ambassador Rend al-Rahim after the meeting, Bush told reporters in Washington that the Iraqi doctors were anxious to work with American counterparts to enhance medical education and integrate advanced technologies into Iraqi healthcare.
"We are making progress together in improving the lives of your citizens with better health care; immunization rates are up; people are getting health care," Bush said.
The White House released a fact sheet December 15, regarding improvements in Iraqi healthcare. It states that with 240 hospitals and more than 1,200 primary health clinics in operation, the country has returned to its pre-war capabilities.
The fact sheet said the Iraqi Ministry of Health now has 100,000 healthcare professionals and staff throughout the country, and has received grants to immunize its 4.2 million children under the age of five against preventable diseases such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, and tuberculosis.
"I think the budget of Saddam Hussein's government for health was, like, $16 million -- less than a dollar per person," Bush said. According to the fact sheet, Iraq's 2004 budget for health care is $950 million.
Following is the text of the fact sheet about Iraq's new healthcare system:
(begin fact sheet)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
December 15, 2003
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW IRAQI HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Dr. Khudair Abbas, the Iraqi Interim Minister of Health, and six other physicians from Iraq, met with President Bush today to discuss recent improvements in the Iraqi healthcare system. The doctors described to the President the dedicated efforts of Iraqi healthcare professionals, and the invaluable support the Iraqi medical system is receiving from the international community. Improvements in Iraq's health services include:
-- The entire country is at pre-war capabilities for providing health care -- 240 Iraqi hospitals and more than 1,200 primary health clinics are operating, offering basic healthcare services for the Iraqi people.
-- Doctors' salaries have increased to between $120 a month and $180 a month, in comparison to $20 a month before the war. There are roughly 22,000 physicians affiliated with the Ministry of Health, and about 35,000 nurses and nursing assistants.
-- The Ministry has 100,000 healthcare professionals and staff. More than 80 percent are women.
-- Iraq's 2004 budget for health care is $950 million. Saddam Hussein's regime provided only $16 million for the Ministry of Health in 2002, a 90 percent reduction from a decade earlier.
-- Health care for some ethnic groups was almost nonexistent under Saddam's regime. The Ministry of Health is working to ensure that health care is available to all Iraqis regardless of ethnicity, geographic origin, gender, or religious affiliation.
-- More than 30 million doses of children's vaccinations have been procured and distributed, and the Ministry has received grants to immunize the country's 4.2 million children under the age of five against preventable diseases such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, and tuberculosis.
-- Routine vaccinations are now available to newborns, children, and mothers every day at Ministry of Health facilities across the country and are promoted nationally through immunization days on the 22nd of each month.
-- Since May 24, the Ministry of Health has delivered more than 25,000 tons of pharmaceuticals and supplies to healthcare facilities across Iraq.
-- The Ministry is responsible for 29,000 hospital beds.
-- Since the liberation of Iraq, the country has not faced a major public health crisis.
-- Three Facility Protective Services classes have trained over 1,300 personnel to protect health facilities.
-- The Ministry of Health has completed a $1.7 million headquarters refurbishment project.
-- In addition to the United States, Japan, Egypt, Korea, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and India are providing assistance to the Ministry of Health. This assistance includes training for doctors and nurses, construction of hospitals, and donation of ambulances.
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)