Damascus, Dec. 3 (SANA) Syrian Health Minister Musab al-Ali met Tuesday with a delegation from the Turkish Ministry of Health, headed by Mustafa Taşkin, to discuss enhancing health cooperation and the development of Damascus Hospital for Heart Diseases and Surgery.
Al-Ali said work is in its final stages on the joint project following a cooperation protocol signed months ago, with the goal of soon opening the hospital’s new building. The hospital comprises two sections: the old building, housing four cardiac catheterization rooms, surgical theaters, patient beds, and intensive care units, and the new building, which includes six specialized cardiac surgery rooms, inpatient wards, intensive care units, and a fully equipped laboratory.
Surgical operations in the new building rely on catheterization services in the old section, which have been integrated under the current agreement.
The new building has received advanced medical devices, including a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization device arriving within two weeks and a new CT scanner. All operation rooms, intensive care units, patient wards, and the laboratory are ready. Services will be transferred to the new building while maintenance and upgrades are performed in the old building.
Al-Ali highlighted plans to develop staff and improve salaries, noting that specialist doctors will start at $3,000 per month, residents at $750, nursing staff at $600, and administrative staff between $300 and $500, with annual reviews. He emphasized that all services, including surgeries and catheterization, will be free for patients for the next two years. Cooperation with Turkey will also include hosting Turkish doctors for training and specialized surgical campaigns.
The Turkish delegation confirmed their commitment to providing the best health services for the Syrian people. The project is part of Syria’s national efforts to rebuild the health sector and improve service quality.
