Damascus, SANA- Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Marwan al-Halabi, and the Minister of Health, Dr. Musab al-Ali, inaugurated the Mezzeh Medical Department of al-Biruni University Hospital, which specializes in radiotherapy for cancer patients. The department was rehabilitated with support from the Hope Association for Cancer Control.
Minister al-Halabi also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the al-Biruni Mosque within the hospital’s main campus in Harasta, in cooperation with the same association.
The Mezzeh Department has undergone a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade, equipped with the latest medical equipment, and increased the number of beds from 40 to 75. This will enhance its capacity to accommodate a greater number of patients.
In a statement, minister al-Halabi considered the project a living and direct model of partnership between the government and endowment associations, and an important step towards developing the infrastructure of university hospitals and enhancing their educational and therapeutic role.
He praised the high efficiency of the work without compromising the provision of medical services and the distinguished outcomes.
Minister al-Halabi noted that the ministry’s upcoming strategy is geared towards linking scientific research with community needs and partnering with the private sector and civil society in all efforts that positively impact the quality of medical work.
He noted that one of the government’s fundamental visions is to expand these services to reach every citizen with complete justice.
Minister al-Halabi praised the efforts of the Ministry of Health and its staff, and the complementary relationship with them across all aspects of work, especially during this important phase, when Syria has returned to all Syrians after the blessings of victory and liberation.
For his part, the Minister of Health expressed his appreciation for this achievement, which includes the maintenance of numerous pieces of equipment, the renovation of the building, and the expansion of its capacity.
He emphasized that this comes within the framework of the government’s commitment to working as a single team to provide an integrated system of support and care, and to provide fair and comprehensive health services to cancer patients.
Minister al-Ali revealed that a Ministry of Health-affiliated oncology center will soon open in Aleppo, and that there are plans to open similar centers in other areas in the future to cover most governorates in the field of cancer.
The health minister indicated that the ministry seeks, through its action plan, to increase the number of centers providing primary care and distribute them across the country in a thoughtful manner commensurate with the population, ensuring that services are closer to patients, thus sparing patients from additional costs and the inconvenience of traveling.
Dr. Radwan al-Ahmad, Director General of al-Biruni Hospital, said that the hospital consists of two departments, one in Harasta and the other in Mezzeh, and receives between 700 and 1,000 patients daily, receiving completely free services.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Zeino, Chairman of the al-Amal Association, also noted that renovation and expansion work began at the beginning of the liberation, with a focus on improving the accommodation of cancer patients coming from distant governorates.
Dr. Hussein Sabbagh, Head of the Radiology Department, confirmed that increasing the number of beds to 75 is still insufficient to meet the number of patients, as the vast majority of them come from the northeast and incur the trouble and expense of travel.
Minister al-Halabi laid the foundation stone for the construction of a mosque serving Al-Biruni Hospital, the Police Hospital, and the area’s residents.
The mosque, funded by the Turkish Hidayat Baraka Foundation, accommodates approximately 250 worshippers and includes accompanying service facilities.
MHD Ibrahim
