Damascus: HE Minister of Health of the Syrian Arab Republic, Dr. Maher Al Sharaa revealed a bleak picture of the health situation in the country, stressing that the sector suffers from a tragic situation as a result of years of war and conflict.
According to Qatar News Agency,he noted that the ministry, since its first days, took the initiative to collect data on the health situation through intensive field visits, and was shocked by the bitter reality that revealed old and dilapidated medical devices, most of which do not work due to lack of maintenance for a long time.
The Syrian Minister of Health added that the severe shortage of supplies, medicines and laboratory capabilities has exacerbated the situation, indicating that all health facilities suffer from a lack of cleanliness due to decades of corruption and the absence of accountability.
He also revealed severe functional slack, as directors of all health facilities were asked to determine the real need for effective cadres; With the aim of retaining them and quadrupling their salaries in the first phase, and giving the rest paid leave.
Minister Al Sharaa confirmed that the ministry has developed a plan of several stages to advance the health sector, including a two-month emergency phase, aiming to respond immediately to secure emergency needs, and an intermediate phase of one year, during which all medications for chronic and immune diseases are secured, the shortage of devices and equipment is compensated, all public health programs are activated, the emergency and ambulance system is activated, GMB standards are applied to pharmaceutical laboratories, and meetings are intensified with local and international humanitarian organizations to convey a true picture of the health reality and develop it.
He explained that this phase also includes the restoration of the infrastructure of all health facilities, securing the needs of equipment, supplies and medicines, benefiting from volunteer medical teams from friendly countries to conduct qualitative operations, benefiting from their high expertise in the field of medical education to train medical personnel, and automating the entire health system.
As for the strategic phase, Al Sharaa confirmed that it will span three years, focusing on creating a health map of centers, hospitals, and specialized units based on population density, with an emphasis on primary health care, public health programs, and reducing hospital visits. It will also involve establishing specialized units for disaster and emergency management, advancing medical education, integrating modern information systems into curricula, collaborating with research centers, and building new hospitals and medical cities to meet national needs.
At the end of his statements to QNA, the Syrian Minister of Health expressed his hope for the success of plans to develop the health sector in his country.