Another reason why the Iraqis love us:
LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Iraq’s healthcare is in disarray with doctors and nurses fleeing abroad and child death rates soaring, according to a report on Wednesday.
Up to 75 percent of Iraq’s doctors, pharmacists and nurses have left their jobs since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. More than half of those have emigrated, the report by health organisation Medact said.
“The health system is in disarray, not only because of the underlying security, but owing to the lack of an institutional framework, huge staff shortages, intermittent electricity, unsafe water supply and frequent violations of medical neutrality,” the report, “Rehabilitation Under Fire”, said.
Iraq has only around 9,000 doctors, giving a ratio of six doctors to every 10,000 people. By comparison, the ratio in Britain is 23 to every 10,000.
