The San Donato Clinic, a hospital belonging to Italy’s San Donato Group, has signed a multi-year agreement with Iraq for the management of the University Hospital in Najaf. This agreement, signed by Iraq’s Health Minister Saleh Al-Hasnawi and Kamil Al-Gharibi, Deputy Chairman of San Donato’s Health Group for Hospitals, involves equipping the hospital with 492 beds owned by the Iraqi Ministry of Health.
The collaboration marks a significant stride in the cooperation between Iraq and Italy in the health sector. For the first time, it brings Italian healthcare excellence to serve the Iraqi nation and its people. The partnership is set to enhance the quality of healthcare services, accessibility, and financial sustainability for the Iraqi population.
Kamil Al-Gharibi expressed his honor in receiving the mandate from the Iraqi government and sees the initiative as pioneering. He hopes this will be just the beginning of increasingly close cooperation between the two countries, opening doors for more development and collaborative opportunities for other Italian companies.
This agreement is part of Iraq’s new direction in health policy, aimed at creating a partnership tool between the public and private sectors with international operators to elevate the standards of healthcare services in the country.
Italy continues to demonstrate its commitment to Iraq’s stabilization and development. As of June 2022, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), has supported the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a significant contribution of EUR 2 million. This funding is aimed at assisting communities affected by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and is part of Italy’s broader effort to support the stabilization process in Iraq. This contribution underscores Italy’s priority to ensure safer conditions in Iraq, facilitating the return of internally displaced persons to their homes and improving living conditions for the Iraqi people.
