Reformation and Development of the Health Care System in Kurdistan Region - Iraq

Dear Colleagues:

The current Iraqi Kurdistan health care delivery system is old, traditional and unresponsive to the increasing community needs. Hence, many local conferences were held since the start of the Fourth and Fifth Cabinet of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in 2004 and 2005 aiming to find a suitable solution for the current health care system problems.

Since 2006 MOH has requested from several  local and international organizations (i.e.: PAO, RAND, French Group,…) to provide a comprehensive and expert situation analysis of the current health care system in order to discover the obstacles and constraints that are stalling the provision of a good- quality health care in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The ultimate objective was to construct and sustain a health care system that effectively responds to the ever increasing population demands which resulted from rapid urbanization and uncontrolled population growth that occurred over the last few decades.

Based on the recommendations and conclusions obtained from the above-mentioned studies, it was formally decided by the MOH-KRG during its preparatory meeting on 27 June 2010to nominate a higher committee for organizing an international congress on 1-3 February 2011 under the titleof (Reformation and Development of Health Care System in Iraqi Kurdistan Region) in Erbil, the capital city of Kurdistan Region.

On behalf of his Excellency, Dr. Taher Abdullah Hawramy, the Minister of Health in KRG and all members of the congresshigher committee, I seek from the regional, national and international experienced friends, interested researchers and experts from health institutions, civil society, governmental and non-governmental organizations and agencies to support us and enrich the congress with their valuable participations and ideas.

The following pivots have been addressed for congress debates and discussions:

1. Health Economics (health insurance, National Health Account, and revision of the current fees for health care services).

2. Health Policy and Management (human resource development, health care quality, patient safety, health auditing, CME, health information system and nursing care).

3. Accreditation of Health Facilities.

4. Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

5. Health Referral System (family medicine, and rural health care).

I am looking forward for your esteemed participation and cooperation.We are ready to receive your papers, comments, ideas and advices.

Please contact us on the following address:

                                         Dr. Abdullah Saeed Abdullah

                                        Consultant Surgeon

                                        D.G Health Duhok Governorate

                                        Head of Congress Higher Committee

                                        E-mail: healthcongress2011@duhokhealth.org

                                          30^th, June 2010