Iraqi academic says health insurance success depends on implementation quality

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An Iraqi academic said the country's Health Insurance System represents a significant reform aimed at restructuring healthcare services, but warned its success depends on how it is carried out. Ali Cuburi said complaints from beneficiaries do not signal failure of the project, but rather expose gaps in management, oversight and the readiness of healthcare institutions to implement it. Cuburi noted that some health centers continue to follow traditional working methods, creating disparities in services between insured and uninsured patients. He said the law provides a suitable framework for the system, but the real challenge lies in implementation mechanisms, the absence of unified standards for performance evaluation and staff training. The academic called for stronger field inspections of healthcare facilities, the activation of complaint systems and the linking of financing to service quality indicators. He added that unifying treatment processes, developing digital infrastructure and running continuous training programs for medical staff would help reduce disparities between providers. Cuburi said the government approved the system as part of broader health-sector reform efforts aimed at reducing out-of-pocket spending by citizens, and stressed the need for regular performance reviews and improvements in service quality.