The Health Sector in Northwest Syria Continues to Suffer Under Reduced International Support The number of health facilities facing funding cuts is increasing day by day. In Idlib province, 14 hospitals have already lost funding, including eight maternity and children's hospitals. This puts additional strain on the remaining supported facilities, which are now struggling to meet the needs of a growing number of patients. In response to this dire situation, the Idlib Health Directorate continues to meet and consult with various stakeholders, including international donors, humanitarian organizations, and health facilities. Dr. Zuhair Al-karrat, Idlib Health Director, met with hospital directors in Idlib province to discuss the decline in international support for the medical sector and to review a range of alternative proposals and solutions to help mitigate the disastrous consequences. During the meeting, Dr. Al-karrat presented a brief overview of the health situation in the region and shared statistics from UN agencies on the state of healthcare in northwest Syria. He noted that the region's population exceeds 5 million people, of whom 3.5 million are displaced, half of whom live in camps. He also stated that by the end of June, the number of health facilities facing funding cuts will rise to 112, serving around 1.5 million people. By the end of the year, this number will rise to 136 health facilities, including 42 centers providing reproductive health services. International grants to the medical sector in the region have decreased by 30-60%, he added. The decline in support for the health sector is accompanied by high population growth rates, which pose a significant challenge to the health sector. The impact on children's hospitals, vaccination centers, tuberculosis treatment centers, dialysis centers, blood banks, and the spread of epidemics and chronic diseases threatens to increase mortality rates, especially among children and the elderly in this region, which is already suffering from tragic humanitarian and living conditions.

The Director of Health also spoke about the Directorate's participation in the Economic Empowerment and Sustainability in Syria Conference, which was held in Istanbul on May 23-24, 2024, and the conference outcomes related to the health situation in northwest Syria. Over two hours of discussion, the meeting concluded with a set of proposals, the most notable of which are: The need to integrate health services within the region and develop a new service map based on need and population density, thus establishing central hospitals with large capacity. Reducing operating costs by implementing a range of measures, including the use of solar energy to reduce fuel consumption. Providing some non-emergency medical services at low fees (charity services). Optimal management of available resources (human resources and medical supplies).

The need for the Health Directorate to supervise the distribution of health services and not leave it solely to the will of the donor. Activating the role of primary healthcare centers and raising their standards to help alleviate the pressure on hospitals. The Director of Health had previously met with representatives of organizations concerned with the health sector and delegations from the Gaziantep Cluster Group and the World Health Organization in the same context. #Idlib_Health_Directorate