IRAQI HEALTH CARE 911


TOWARD A SELF-SUFFICIENT SYSTEM


The Iraqi health care system—including medical supply, distribution, and biomedical maintenance programs—is still facing many challenges but is making improvements after nearly a decade of conflict. Here, an Iraqi Army doctor examines a child during a combined medical engagement and humanitarian aid mission led by the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). U.S. forces partnered with the ISF to host the event on Sept. 7, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by SSG Tanya Thomas.)


areas. These shortages included com- monly


used such as antibiotics, surgical drugs gloves, used


in anesthesia, anticancer drugs, most laboratory reagents, and medical sup- plies


sutures,


surgical blades, IV cannulas, and blood bags. Distribution activities


gradually


resumed when some contracts previously submitted by were awarded.


the former government


The Iraqi government medication pro- duction base was


almost nonexistent,


which exacerbated the shortages. The IV fluid plant in Ninewah completely stopped operating as a result of looting and vandalism. However, the Arab Com- pany for Antibiotics Industries (ACAI)


50


and Samara Industries were not affected by the war. The ACAI factory resumed activities in August 2003, but


Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Ministry of Interior (MoI).


the raw


materials available were sufficient to maintain production for only one month.


ENABLING SELF-SUFFICIENCY In June 2004, the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I) was established to help the Iraqi government develop capable minis- tries and adequate Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) that adhere to the rule of law. The establishment of MNSTC-I was a direct response to the need to create a new Iraqi army and to build a new police force using a civilian police assistance team and advisory missions supporting the


Army AL&T Magazine


The U.S. Congress appropriated fund- ing for MNSTC-I to meet its mission of building and supporting the ISF. To assist in distributing this funding, MNSTC-I used nine advisory teams that generated requirements for the ISF. These require- ments involved developing the ministerial capacity; arranging training


for Iraqi


Army and Iraqi National Police forces; and building


sustainment efforts to enhance the performance of the ISF.


The health affairs advisory team was tasked with advising the Surgeon Gen- eral of Iraqi Joint Forces (SGIJF), who


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