Iraqi health minister orders funding inclusion of 2023-2025 graduates in 2027 budget

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi lawmaker Farouk Adnan al-Yasiri announced that the Minister of Health has directed that financial allocations and grade ranks for graduates from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 cohorts be included in the ministry's 2027 budget draft. Al-Yasiri said the decision followed his own initiative aimed at restoring the rights of medical and health professions graduates. He described the step as "the beginning of a solution" to safeguarding those graduates' entitlements. The announcement came as health professionals held demonstrations in the Bab al-Muadham district of Baghdad demanding appointments to government posts. According to security sources, tensions arose between protesters and security forces during the protests, with security forces deploying stun grenades to disperse the crowd. No further details were immediately available on the specific budget line items or the number of graduates affected. Al-Yasiri has not indicated when the included allocations would be implemented under the proposed 2027 budget.