[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”!! PLEASE DO NOT EDIT !!!” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ admin_label=”!!! PLEASE DO NOT EDIT !!!” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In 2023, the population of Iraq was 45.5 million people<\/a>, 71% of whom resided in urban areas. According to 2022 data from the World Bank Group, life expectancy at birth is 71 years<\/a>. In 2021, 63.4% of the burden of disease was attributable to noncommunicable diseases, 20.1% to communicable diseases and 13.8% to injuries.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 2 ” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]A 2021 article about a study by Taniguchi et al.<\/a> discusses several features of Iraq\u2019s health system. The authors state that public facilities provide free health care services but that the services are not equitably distributed across governorates. Moreover, the authors add, dual practice has caused a shortage of human resources in the public sector while perceived poor quality and long waiting times at public facilities attract people to private ones.[\/et_pb_text][ba_gradient_heading title=”Reasons for high out-of-pocket spending” html_tag=”h3″ primary_color=”#455A64″ secondary_color=”#455A64″ admin_label=”HEADING (50-60 characters)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”26px” title_line_height=”1em” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_gradient_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n According to 2022 data from the Global Health Expenditure Database, the proportion of current health expenditure as a share of GDP was low, at 4.3%, and health expenditure per capita was US$ 255, the lowest number among the upper-middle-income countries. Low government health expenditure, which was 51% as a share of current health expenditure, political instability and a rapidly expanding private sector have resulted in high out-of-pocket expenditure, which was 48% of current health expenditure in 2022.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 4 ” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The study by Taniguchi et al found worsened financial risk protection indicators, including a fourfold increase in catastrophic health expenditure from 3% in 2007 to 12% in 2012, and a twofold increase in impoverishment from 1.5% in 2007 to 2.8% in 2012. Conflict-caused destruction of infrastructure, displacement and brain drain could magnify shortages in health resources, inequitable distribution of health care and weak financial protection.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][ba_gradient_heading title=”Political turmoil disrupts the health system” html_tag=”h3″ primary_color=”#455A64″ secondary_color=”#455A64″ admin_label=” HEADING (50-60 characters)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”26px” title_line_height=”1em” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_gradient_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Iraq\u2019s National Health Policy, 2014-2023 contextualizes Iraq\u2019s health system over time. Since the 1980s, Iraq has experienced political turmoil and war. Essential infrastructure, including the health care system, has been severely damaged, and many skilled health professionals have fled the country. To restore the public health system damaged by war, the Iraqi Ministry of Health developed a national health policy<\/a> with the objective of advancing universal health coverage.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 9 – Footnotes” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”a{color:#4c7e96 }” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n