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Health crisis in the making as doctors flee Iraq

As a brain drain in the health sector and the war against IS continue, Iraq is facing a health crisis.
A woman, who was wounded in a bombing at a Kurdish wedding in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka, lies in a hospital in Dohuk province, Iraq, October 4, 2016.   REUTERS/Ari Jalal  - RTSQP7M

On Oct. 10, the Iraqi president approved a law passed by the parliament to provide comprehensive support to doctors in order to prevent the massive emigration in this sector and encourage overseas doctors to return to Iraq. Yet it is not known to what extent the law will achieve its goals and how the Iraqi government will implement it.

A growing number of Iraqi doctors are departing their war-torn country despite a shortage of medical professionals, namely because of threats to their personal safety, a lack of career prospects and unbearable working conditions.

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