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Iraqi doctors return to work, but patients still face acute shortages of drugs

BMJ 2003; 326 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.326.7396.952/b (Published 03 May 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;326:952
  1. Owen Dyer
  1. London

    A week of steady improvement in Iraq's humanitarian situation has seen doctors returning to work across the country and the partial restoration of electricity and water supplies in many areas. WHO has warned, however, that patients with chronic diseases face acute shortages of medicines, and many hospitals are providing emergency care only.

    WHO said that a survey of Iraq's health infrastructure showed that there were 1447 medical facilities throughout the country, including 160 hospitals, of which 33 are in Baghdad, and 1285 health centres. There are more than 26 000 hospital beds, which the WHO considers adequate for the population.

    Rather than sending field hospitals, WHO said, donor countries …

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