ShafaqNews- Al-Anbar
Constructionof the long-awaited 200-bed Heet General Hospital in Iraq's Al-Anbar provincehas reached 72% completion, raising hopes among residents who have spent yearstraveling to other cities for medical treatment, an Iraqi official told ShafaqNews on Saturday.
YasserDailan, director of the engineering department at the Al-Anbar HealthDirectorate, indicated that work on the project is progressing as planned,noting that the remaining tasks include completing infrastructure works andinstalling medical equipment and other hospital requirements.
“Theproject remains on track for completion in April 2027,” he explained, notingthat the hospital could open earlier if infrastructure works are completed inthe near term.
Forresidents of Heet, the project represents more than a new building. It offersthe prospect of easier access to healthcare closer to home, reducing the needto travel to Ramadi, Haditha, or Baghdad for treatment.
Speakingto Shafaq News, civil activist Iyad al-Rawi described the latest progress asencouraging but stressed the importance of accelerating the remaining work tomeet growing healthcare needs. He alsonoted that thousands of residents travel outside the city each day for medicalexaminations, surgical procedures, and specialized treatment, placing financialand emotional strain on many families.
“Theabsence of a fully equipped hospital creates challenges for emergency patients,who often require transportation over long distances to receive urgent care,”he remarked, urging contractors, the Ministry of Health, and local authoritiesto remove any obstacles that could delay infrastructure works or theinstallation of medical equipment.
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