AMMAN (JT) - Displaced Iraqis living in Egypt, Jordan and Syria should be eligible to receive healthcare on the same basis as the local population in these countries, participants at a recent ministerial consultation agreed.

The meeting, held in Damascus late last month, was convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to consider the health needs of Iraqis living in neighbouring countries.

There are estimated to be more than two million displaced Iraqis, the majority of them in Syria and Jordan, with substantial numbers also in Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and Turkey, according to a WHO statement. Host countries have been trying to meet their health needs through their national health systems, but these systems are rapidly becoming overwhelmed by the large numbers of displaced Iraqis, the statement said. The consultation was attended by the ministries of health and of foreign affairs of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Syria, as well as representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and WHO.

“This was an important meeting and a key commitment on the part of the host governments concerned,” said WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region Hussein Gezairy. “It means that displaced Iraqis are expected to be treated in the same way as the local population in getting access to healthcare,” he added.

Participants discussed how to improve access to healthcare for Iraqis who have sought refuge in Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

It was recognised that host countries were already making a very substantial contribution in providing for the health needs of displaced Iraqis living in their countries.

Furthermore, despite the increased burden on their health systems, host governments are at present receiving very little support for the heavy additional costs which they are incurring, the statement noted. A substantial proportion of the displaced Iraqi population, particularly those requiring hospital or specialised care, are currently facing real difficulties in getting access to adequate healthcare, according to WHO.

Health ministry representatives from Egypt, Jordan and Syria all reaffirmed their commitment to continue to provide health services for displaced Iraqis on the same basis as for their local populations, regardless of whether or not they were registered with UNHCR.

Iraqi government representatives at the consultation also reiterated their government’s commitment to share these additional costs in collaboration with the international community.

Participants agreed that they would seek to mobilise the resources needed to support health ministries of the host countries and other providers to assist in meeting the additional costs involved, noting that existing and alternative funding mechanisms would be considered for this purpose.

“It is a huge commitment on the part of the host countries,” said Ala Alwan, WHO assistant director general for health action in crises. “There are very substantial extra costs involved. If equal access to healthcare is to be fully achieved, the international community and the Iraqi government must now respond by providing the necessary support. We made important progress at the consultation in agreeing on practical measures to improve access, but the implementation of these measures depends on the necessary resources being made available,” he added.

The consultation also considered steps that could be taken to improve access to healthcare and it was agreed that better information was needed about the number and location of Iraqis living in neighbouring countries and about their health needs and access to health services. It was also agreed that priority should be given to ensuring access for displaced Iraqis to the most essential health services.

These were defined as primary healthcare, including both preventive and curative services, reproductive health and child health services, emergency medical care and essential drugs and medical supplies, including those required for treatment of chronic diseases.

Participants agreed that each government would develop coordination mechanisms with partner agencies: The Ministry of Health, Red Crescent Society, UN Agencies and NGOs. The statement said UNHCR would continue to coordinate assistance to and the protection of all displaced Iraqis in host countries across all sectors and work closely with WHO to coordinate the work of UN agencies and other partners in the health sector.