The Ministry of Health-Kurdistan region, Iraq and the Kurdistan Higher Council of Medical Specialities

About

The Ministry of Health in the Kurdistan region of Iraq oversees and monitors healthcare provision in the region and is responsible for the ongoing development of medical scientific expertise and capability. The Kurdistan Higher Council of Medical Specialties is a teaching and training institution in the field of medical sciences, and has the status of university.

Objectives

The current Memorandum of Understanding was established in December 2023. Its objectives set out that together we will work towards:

  • Plan and run online and in-person training sessions to develop and improve expertise in specialty areas such as blood transfusion medicine, blood banking and thalassemia, cytogenetics and molecular testing in haematology.
  • Provide advice and guidance to the government on how to improve the standard of pathology practice and patient care across the country in specialty areas such as transfusion medicine and cytogenetics and molecular tests in haematology.
  • Provide access to the RCPath International Pathology School (IPS) toolkit and guidance in hosting the event for undergraduate medical students.
  • Support and organise activities in support of International Pathology Day, an annual event every November.
  • Support International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and provide guidance for the RCPath Medical Training Initiative (MTI) and Sponsorship Schemes.

Our achievements so far

  • 4 representatives from the Ministry of Health-Kurdistan region, Iraq and the Kurdistan Higher Council of Medical Specialities where hosted on a tour of the Northwest London Pathology laboratories before visiting the College where the the memorandum of Understanding was signed on Wednesday 6 December 2023.