Iraqi lawmaker warns hospitals failing to keep up with population growth

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A member of Iraq's parliamentary Health and Environment Committee said the country's health sector is struggling to cope with sustained population growth, with existing hospitals and health centers unable to absorb the rising number of patients. Shahd al-Hamdani said a significant portion of hospitals in cities hit by military operations, particularly Mosul, were destroyed during the fight against ISIS. New facilities have opened since then, but the shortage has not been resolved, she added. Hamdani called for additional hospitals to be built and for health infrastructure to be renewed. She also said improving services requires both government action and compliance by citizens with rules at treatment facilities. The lawmaker urged the acceleration of long-delayed health projects and an increase in budget allocations for the sector to match Iraq's demographic expansion. No further details on specific projects or funding were immediately available.