Iraqi parliament approves bill to create health workforce employment fund

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi parliament unanimously approved a proposal to establish a Sustainable Health Development Fund aimed at employing graduates of health and medical professions, including those who completed their studies in 2023, 2024 and 2025 as well as future cohorts, lawmaker Geyd Raad al-Kilabi said. Al-Kilabi, a member of the parliamentary Health Committee, said the proposal has been forwarded to the Federal Service Council, which confirmed the fund is viable but requires further regulations and government action to be completed. Under the plan, the fund would draw on multiple financing sources rather than relying solely on the regular operating budget, al-Kilabi said. He described it as a permanent financing mechanism designed to absorb the country's health-sector graduates and ease the burden on the general budget. The proposal has been referred to the finance and health ministries, the parliamentary Finance Committee and other relevant bodies for review. Al-Kilabi said the fund would mark the start of a new legislative and implementation process to address the obstacles facing the large pool of medical and health graduates seeking work.