10.000 doctors left Iraq since 2003, says Iraqi Health Ministry

 

(IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi Ministry of Health revealed that the number of doctors who have left Iraq because of the security situation since 2003 amounted to about 10 thousand doctors.

The official ministry spokesman, Abdul Ghani Saadoun said, “The case of the kidnapping of doctors in recent times is a terrible and very unfortunate phenomenon, because it is aimed at a human and national treasure that works to save the lives of people from death. It affects the morale and efforts of the doctors when they hear that one of their colleagues is kidnapped and/or blackmailed.”

Saadoun added, “This phenomenon began mid 2003 and is still ongoing. The number of doctors who emigrated from Iraq has reached 10,000, and that’s an adverse situation that reflects on our work in the health sector.”

He continued, “It negatively influences junior doctors in their careers when they see their medical professors being kidnapped and blackmailed. They will think they are next, which will make them consider working abroad,” pointing out that London only is inhabited by 5000 Iraqi doctors, let alone others living in different countries around the world.