IRAQ HEALTH INVESTMENT SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS,

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000605 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ECIN BEXP CVIS IZ ECON PGOV PREL SUBJECT: IRAQ HEALTH INVESTMENT SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS, CHALLENGES REF: Baghdad 317 ¶1. SUMMARY. The Iraq Health Investment Summit, held on February 19-20 in Istanbul, Turkey, was a key opportunity for the Minister of Health (MOH),Dr. Salih al-Hasnawi, to showcase Iraq's 2009-2013 strategic health plan and to solicit partnerships with private companies for Iraq's healthcare system. Potential investors said they believed there were opportunities to be tapped in this new healthcare market. Despite repeated assurances from the Minister of Health that security in Iraq has improved and has been stable for over a year, the optimism was tempered by concerns over the fragility of the security situation and weak MOH infrastructure capacity. Iraqi and American investors complained about the "cumbersome" U.S. visa process hampering business opportunities in Iraq. Academics and medical professionals expressed optimism that after years of difficulty in the US-Iraq healthcare relationship, partnerships and exchanges with the influential medical cadre can help rebuild Iraqis' confidence in America. END SUMMARY. FIRST EVER IRAQ HEALTH INVESTMENT CONFERENCE A SUCCESS -------------- ¶2. The MOH hosted over 100 medical company representatives and the World Health Organization to its February 19-20 Iraq Health Investment Summit in Istanbul. The conference outlined the ministry's strategic plan for 2009-2013 and acknowledged shortfalls and mechanisms being put in place to reform some archaic systems, such as Kimadia, the state-owned and operated medical equipment/pharmaceutical procurement and distribution organization for the MOH. The U.S.-Iraq Chamber of Commerce also provided practical investment guidelines to companies looking to do business in Iraq. The GOI delegation was comprised of the Minister of Health and his most knowledgeable and articulate Director Generals, as well as two of the Prime Minister's representatives, a member of the Council of Representatives Health and Environment Committee, and leaders in Iraqi medicine and education. Members of the Iraqi delegation challenged each other during the general sessions, asking tough questions, including discussion on decision making processes and the length of time to turn contracts around. PRIORITIES FOCUS ON PRIMARY HEALTHCARE AND NURSING -------------- -------------- ¶3. The MOH presented an ambitious strategic plan covering 26 areas, many aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals as well as international standards of improved healthcare. The MOH presented in great detail its construction plans to expand the primary healthcare center (PHC) network as well as the construction of new hospitals across Iraq. In the coming years, the MOH infrastructure expansion plan includes construction of an additional 1,500 PHCs (estimates for existing PHCs range from 1,200-1,900 depending on how clinics and satellites are defined) and increasing the number of hospital beds available for secondary and tertiary care. The GOI has developed plans to construct seven "turn-key" hospitals in 2009 and has already awarded over $1.5 billion in hospital contracts to Turkish, Australian and German companies. The Minister of Health also announced that 2009 was the "Year of Nursing." Follow-up discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO) country lead indicated that further commitment from the MOH was needed in addressing the nursing sector. The MOH will focus on actions to garner positive publicity about nurses and the nursing profession to combat years of neglect and lack of training. The WHO has already Qcombat years of neglect and lack of training. The WHO has already been working closely with the Ministries of Health and Higher Education on key projects aimed at improving education of and services provided by nurses and addressing the stigma associated with the nursing profession. SECURITY AND MOH CAPACITY A LINGERING CONCERN -------------- ¶4. The improvement in security was noted several times throughout the conference, both by Dr. Salih and members of his delegation. Despite repeated reassurances, conference participants remained cautious about making any concrete commitments despite the potential of a growing health market. Several company representatives already active in Iraq's health sector, with some employing hundreds of individuals across the country, noted to other potential investors that the security situation had improved, yet reforms in MOH procurement and contracting were still needed. Dr. Salih urged companies to "become partners" with Iraq to improve the healthcare system and service delivery as they developed business contracts. AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND IRAQIS CALL FOR REVISED U.S. VISA POLICY -------------- ¶5. While security was identified as a hindrance to doing business in Iraq, no other issue was raised more vehemently than the difficulty in obtaining U.S. visas. Both American businesses and Iraqis spoke at length about the negative impact the cumbersome visa process was having on investment and educational exchanges. One Iraqi complained of a rising cardiologist having to turn down a fully-sponsored invitation to the American Cardiologist Association meeting in Florida because he was invited with less than a four month window. ¶6. The Health Attach explained the visa process and encouraged attendees to plan their travel to the U.S. well in advance. While the group appreciated the various checks built into the visa processing system, they were "sad to see that U.S. policies are preventing U.S. businesses from investing in Iraq" and noted that European countries, which issue visas to Iraqis in approximately two weeks, were "running over" American businesses. A group of conference participants are currently in the process of mobilizing support from Congressional leaders to ask the Department to reexamine Iraqi visa regulations. The business representatives contended that improving the visa process has the potential of saving many small American businesses, which lose from foreign competitors who are able to host Iraqis in their countries. WAY AHEAD THROUGH U.S.-IRAQI PARTNERSHIPS -------------- ¶7. The Health Attach and NEA/I Desk Officer met with a prominent Iraqi cardiologist who has been responsible for overseeing a physician exchange partnership funded by the United Kingdom's Department of Health. Dr. Hillal Shawki shared in great detail the implementation process of this successful exchange program, which in two years has trained 400 Iraqi medical professionals in the United Kingdom for $9 million. This program includes rigorous selection criteria and a strong monitoring and evaluation component carried out by Dr. Shawki and a group of volunteers from Iraq's medical and higher education professional cadre. As part of the eight week observerships, participation includes courses on Change Management and Clinical Observation. Dr. Shawki believed this successful UK model could be replicated by the U.S. as a joint commitment under the Strategic Framework Agreement. Dr. Shawki encouraged the U.S. to implement programs that would help "win the battle of trust" by regaining the "hearts and minds" of the educated middle class which can influence younger generations. ¶8. COMMENT. Despite security concerns, conference participants agreed that Iraq provides an excellent medical business market worth several hundred million dollars each year, and this is a critical time for businesses to enter the market. As Iraq rebuilds its healthcare infrastructure, the MOH will need to make significant investments in businesses and systems to meet its public health needs. In addition, health diplomacy through increased medical exchanges will become an effective tool at "winning the heart and minds" of the educated middle-class Iraqis. This conference, initiated and funded by the MOH, is reflective of an Iraqi Ministry actively seeking willing partners to advance its strategic goals. In recent months, we have increasingly registered louder frustrations by Iraqis and American investors on the visa process in this and other fora; this will continue to be a thorny issue as Iraq opens up for business throughout all its sectors, and travel to the U.S. becomes a key component of bilateral exchanges. As Iraq's health sector continues to develop its investments and reforms, we will remain engaged in our programs and foreign assistance in healthcare programs with a focus on maintaining stability and further improving service delivery. END COMMENT. BUTENIS