TY - JOUR ID - TI - Physicians’ Shortage in Iraq: Impact and Proposed Solutions AU - Salih Al Hasnawi صالح الحسناوي PY - 2013 VL - 26 IS - 3 SP - 214 EP - 218 JO - IRAQI JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE المجلة العراقية لطب المجتمع SN - 16845382 AB - Abstract:Background: Physicians shortage is considered a major issue affecting the quality of health services, considerable attention has been focused lately on the apparent shortage of physicians in Iraq and this issue brings a lot of political and social concern.Objective: To determine the current number of Physicians and future projection, its impacts, and the possible solutions.Method: Data collected from Ministry of Health Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ministry of Planning. The data was coded, analyzed, presented by tables, graphs and compared with the global and regional rates.Results: In 2011, the rate physicians is 7.5 per 10000 population i.e. one physician per 1333 citizens and the expected rate in 2018 is (8.7 / 10000) i.e. one physician per 1149 citizens with unequal distribution over governorates. This rate is much lower than global (14/10000) and regional (16/10000). Conclusion: Iraq is facing shortage of physicians during this decade. Health system reform and establishment of health education commission are essential solutions for shortage of physicians in Iraq. Key words: Physician, shortage, Iraq

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