Syria Healthcare 101
Structure of the Healthcare
The Ministry of Health oversees the provision of healthcare services to the population through various programs, strategies, and medical facilities. Due to the ongoing conflict, the structure of the Syrian Healthcare system has evolved over time.
Syria Health System Before the Conflict:
Before the start of the conflict in March 2011, the Ministry of Health (MOH) was the main provider of the primary healthcare services. Other medical services including secondary and tertiary healthcare were provided with support from the Ministry of Defense, Interior, and Social Affairs and Labor.
The constitution warranted that the provision of healthcare is the responsibility of the state, which was to be implemented across 14 governorates. Healthcare in the country consisted of government-run hospitals and primary care medical facilities; whereas comprehensive advanced medical care was based mostly in private-run hospitals in Aleppo and Damascus.
Most of the population were frequent chain smokers at the time, therefore Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) remain an issue. Before the conflict, mental healthcare was not a priority, and a stigma remains surrounding mental healthcare resources and conversations.
Syria Health System After the Conflict:
Due to the conflict, the health system has collapsed which led to the closure of most medical facilities. This in turn has led to an increase in mortality rates. There has been damage to many health facilities which has forced the restructuring of health facilities in Syria. These new facilities have been constructed in houses, farms, factories, and other makeshift centers. They have served as underground facilities, which have been a constant target by armed forces.
Increased focus has been shifted to trauma and mental health as a way to cope with effects of war, which has helped in some respects but has also led to the neglect of primary healthcare provision. This in turn has led to increased outbreaks of infectious diseases such as measles, poliomyelitis, and even meningitis.
Financing Healthcare
Healthcare is financed by a combination of public funds carved out from the budget, private insurance, and a large portion of out-of-pocket payments for outpatient consultations and medications. State spending on healthcare is derived from government revenues, as approved and allocated by the Ministry of Finance.
The public social insurance plan is the oldest health insurance option in the region and it covers health expenditures of public sector employees and the self-employed population.
Investment Opportunities
Lucrative opportunities to invest in Syria include:
Health Insurance
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
Mental Health Facilities
Start Ups & Technology
Fadfed
Spermly
Challenges
As a result of the ongoing conflict, primary healthcare has been left to suffer at an expense of prioritizing matters relating to trauma and immediate life threatening situations.
The prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the aging population remains a challenge in the country.
There is a limited number of skilled workers available to work in the healthcare facilities, as most staff personnel are left with no choice but to flee the country for their safety and the safety of their families.
Hospitals are at an overwhelmed capacity due to the high number of conflict casualties and COVID-19 patients.
Solutions
In partnership with other stakeholders, the government should work to build more primary health care centers to provide increased access to basic healthcare needs.
International Organizations commissioned for refugees and the government should take into account the many internally displaced persons (IDPs), in order to understand the population suffering from NCDs and to prepare proper treatment plans and therapies.
Skilled medical personnel should be given extra added security with lucrative incentives to ensure they can continue working in difficult situations.
PPPs should open up more medical facilities to relieve the current hospitals and facilities from the burden of being overwhelmed. When the population is contained, it is easier to reduce the risk of the spread of infectious diseases.