ABSTRACT
In Iraq, there are about 2600 Primary Health-Care Centres, mostly located in population centres, but some are located in rural and peri-urban areas. Most donor attention concerned with rebuilding health services in Iraq has focused on the problems of hospitals. Most of the Main Health-Care Centres have good infrastructure, are medically fairly well equipped, well staffed with physicians, trained nurses and medical auxiliaries, and follow medical protocols. The Iraqi residency programme in family medicine started in 1989 as a joint programme of Family and Community Medicine with those candidates passing the programme being awarded a Fellowship in Family and Community Medicine. The private sector in Iraq is participating actively in delivering health services whether primary, secondary, or tertiary services. The Ministry of Health is supporting the expansion of family practice in Iraq by increasing the number of primary care centres using the family practice approach and increasing the number of family doctors after academic training.
