Skip to main content
AL-Wahda Hospital
The effects of years of conflict and instability continue to be felt in Iraq. Despite the resumption of services in some health facilities, the country’s public health system is still far from making a full recovery.

While over 4.8 million people have managed to return home, around 1.1 million people remain displaced across 18 governorates*. Both returnees and those still displaced struggle to access basic services and job opportunities. 

The healthcare system is unable to fulfil the needs of people, which is exacerbated by the shortages of specialist healthcare workers and drugs.

Our teams in Iraq continue to bridge the most pressing gaps in access to healthcare in four governorates. We provide general, maternal, neonatal, and mental healthcare, in addition to surgical procedures, post-operative care and rehabilitation, treatment for non-communicable diseases and emergency medical care.

*http://iraqdtm.iom.int/ - IOM

Why are we here?

Our activities in 2023 in Iraq

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023.

MSF in Iraq in 2023 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) ran a diverse range of health services across Iraq in 2023, serving hard-to-reach communities and people affected by years of conflict.
Iraq IAR map 2023

Despite signs of improvements after decades of fighting and war, Iraq’s public healthcare sector is still recovering and there are significant needs, particularly in remote areas and regions directly affected by the recent conflict with the Islamic State group.

As international resources have been reallocated to other regions in the world and assistance has decreased in Iraq, the country is facing the major challenge of rebuilding and rehabilitating its infrastructure and public services, including public healthcare.

In 2023, MSF teams worked in 11 locations across Iraq, delivering a wide range of essential and specialised medical services to residents of areas with limited access to healthcare, as well as to people returning home after prolonged displacement in camps or other regions within the country.

Our activities included maternal, paediatric and neonatal services, emergency medical care, sexual and reproductive healthcare, specialised orthopaedic and obstetric surgery, comprehensive post-surgical rehabilitation, treatment for non-communicable diseases, and mental health support. In addition, we supported healthcare facilities across Iraq with donations of medical supplies and technical training for staff, and strengthened local health authorities’ preparedness for emergencies.

We also continued to assist the National Tuberculosis Institute with the administration of oral treatment regimens for patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis.

During the year, we organised several referrals for Iraqi patients requiring specialist surgical care to MSF’s reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, Jordan.

 

In 2023
 
MSF non-communicable diseases clinic
Iraq

Significant healthcare needs remain in Hawija six years after battle with Islamic State group

Project Update 15 Jun 2022
 
Maternal services insufficient in Mosul
Iraq

Delivering babies in a city with few maternity services

Project Update 6 Apr 2022
 
Iraq : Treating COVID-19 in Baghdad
Iraq

The restless challenge of tackling COVID-19 in Iraq

Project Update 21 Jan 2022
 
Ibtisam Hashim, midwife, Nablus hospital, West Mosul
Iraq

Mosul: A city recovering from war

Voices from the Field 19 Nov 2021
 
IRAQ: Tackling multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, one patient at a time
Iraq

Tackling multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, one patient at a time

Project Update 29 Sep 2021
 
AL-Wahda Hospital
Iraq

Dire needs for healthcare remain years after Battle of Mosul

Project Update 29 Jul 2021
 
IPC training in Ibn El-Khateeb Hospital, Baghdad
Iraq

MSF Iraq annual report 2020

Report 14 Jun 2021
 
Iraq : Treating COVID-19 in Baghdad
Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

“Only vaccination will end the ferocious spread of COVID-19 in Iraq”

Opinion 31 Mar 2021
 
Iraq : Treating COVID-19 in Baghdad
Iraq

Severe COVID-19 patients in Iraq “were almost sure to die”

Project Update 16 Feb 2021

Find us online

Up Next
13 June 2018