Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Related Articles
Damascus, SANA – Syria is self-sufficient in locally-made medicines, Health Minister Nizar Yazigi stressed Thursday, pointing out that there are however some difficulties in providing drugs for chronic and cancer diseases under the foreign-imposed economic sanctions.
In his answers to queries put forth by MPs about the health and medicine situation during a People’s Assembly session, Yazigi assured that the ministry is communicating daily with friendly countries to secure the provision of the drugs that are unavailable in the market and other medical equipment needed.
He referred to a contract with Iran to supply the Ministry with 50 ambulances, whose implementation is being pushed for through constant contacts between the two sides, noting that 30 mobile clinic vehicles were distributed only recently.
As for vaccines, the Minister said polio vaccine is fully provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) for free, while the supplying of other vaccines is carried out through the credit line opened by Iran and from other friendly countries in accordance with the importing measures in place.
On the situation of medical equipment, Yazigi said there are contracts for the maintaining of devices for computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and X-ray, adding that another contract for maintaining dialysis devices is being worked on to be ratified soon by Prime Minister.
The Minister noted that the Police Hospital in Aleppo will be re-opened and put back into service in the next couple of weeks.
Manar al-Frieh/Haifa Said
