Workshop on comprehensive health coverage in Syria with participant of Health, People’s Assembly and WHO representatives

Damascus, SANA- The joint workshop concentrated on the reality of the comprehensive health coverage in Syria and importance of ensuring health care services to the citizens with participation of all sectors and support of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Members of the People’s Assembly, Minister of Health, Dr. Hassan Mohammad al-Ghabbash, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, and representative of the World Health Organization in Syria Dr. Akjamal Maktoomova participated in the workshop which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus on Tuesday.

Dr. al-Ghabbash reviewed the strategies for moving ahead towards an overall health coverage in Syria, ensuring the funding of health services, securing workforce, medicines and vaccines, and providing health information.

He pointed out to the obstacles facing the health sector in Syria, mainly that more than 50 hospitals went out of service either completely or partially due to terrorism and the destruction affected about 500 health centers, as well as the unfair economic blockade imposed on Syria which hinders import of medicine or medical equipment, in addition to the Coronavirus pandemic which led for further requirements, including the quarantine centers.

For his part, Dr. al-Mandahari said that the Coronavirus pandemic entailed the need for solidarity of all parties on the national, regional and international levels, indicating that health system in Syria was developed before the war on the regional level in terms of providing basic services and medical quality to citizens, and so far Syrians have access to these services.

 Head of the People’s Assembly Services Committee, Faysal Azouz, underlined importance of continuing fruitful coordination and cooperation between Syria and WHO for better and more efficient access to medical aid and services to citizens, calling for adopting any step that would achieve integrated health care for citizens, and hailing the WHO’s role in Syria.

 A number of issues, including the importance of providing overall health coverage for the citizens in all areas, increasing the level of support provided by the Organization, particularly in regard with cancer drugs, vaccines and treatments for the Coronavirus were also on the table.

Hala Zain