Iraqi hospitals under IS suffer lack of medicine, staff
The state of hospitals in Iraqi areas under IS control face shortage of medicine and staff, and are sometimes forced to treat the wounded from among the organization’s ranks.
The health sector in cities controlled by the Islamic State (IS) is at its worst, particularly after the central government completely cut off support for those hospitals, due to the lack of supply routes through which medicines can be delivered, in addition to the fact that many staff members have fled, as a result of IS pressure.
News spread about IS killing a number of physicians in Mosul because they cooperated with security forces, or did not comply with IS orders.
A doctor at Mosul General Hospital told Al-Monitor by phone, on condition of anonymity, “The hospital is no longer able to carry out major surgeries, due to staff and pharmaceutical supply shortages.” He added, “Even deliveries are now being performed by midwives at home; the hospital is only admitting difficult delivery cases.”
In addition, doctors at Mosul hospital are forced to treat IS gunmen wounded by coalition airstrikes or government forces on the outskirts of other Iraqi cities.
