The US presidential envoy to Iraq and administrator of the occupying Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Paul Bremer congratulated the Iraqi Minister of Health Khudair Abbas for becoming the first Ministry to reach a milestone on the road to sovereignty. This action begins the return of ministries to Iraqi authority.
"Together, Dr. Abbas, Jim Haveman (Coalition Senior Advisor for Health), and their staffs have laid a foundation for a stronger and more efficient health care system. It has been a period of not only rebuilding, but of training and development after more than 30 years of neglect and isolation. We have reopened Iraq's doors to global technology and advancement," stated Ambassador Bremer.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health has developed short and long-term strategic plans, a budget, and an administrative reorganization. Fundamental management systems have been put in place, and more importantly, a system of checks and balances has been implemented to deter and root out corruption.
Under the leadership of Abbas, the Ministry of Health has already increased Iraq's budget by $932 million. Under Saddam in 2002, the national health care budget was $16 million, and the 2004 budget is $948 million. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
