IRAQ: DOCTORS AND HEALTH WORKERS PROTEST ABOUT MEMBER OF THE OLD REGIME BECOMING NEW HEALTH MINISTER APPOINTED BY U.S OFFICIALS

Record ID: 647248

  • Title: IRAQ: DOCTORS AND HEALTH WORKERS PROTEST ABOUT MEMBER OF THE OLD REGIME BECOMING NEW HEALTH MINISTER APPOINTED BY U.S OFFICIALS
  • Date: 7th May 2003
  • Summary: (U3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MAY 7, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE OF DOCTORS AND HEALTH WORKERS WITH BANNER READING " CLEAN UP OUT MINISTRY FROM OLD CORRUPTED FIGURES" PROTESTING ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT OF ALI SHINAN AS HEALTH MINISTER 0.03 2. SMV DOCTORS WITH SMALL POSTERS READING " NEW CLEARN ERA, NEW CLEAN FIGURES" 0.09 3. SLV OF DEMONSTRATION WITH BANNER " IRAQI DOCTORS DEMAND THEIR RIGHTS" 0.14 4. WIDE OF DOCTORS MARCHING WITH BANNER 0.19 5. MV OF DOCTORS 0.24 7. VARIOUS, WOMEN DOCTORS/ HEALTH WORKERS MARCHING 0.32 8. WIDE OF DOCTORS WITH BANNER "IRAQI DOCTORS DEMAND THEIR RIGHTS" 0.37 9. SLV DOCTORS GREETING EACH OTHER 0.44 10. SCU (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) IRAQI DOCTOR SAYING " The main problem is that we have old figures , from the old regime, still they are taking their main positions in the ministry of health, so we want them to go out of the ministry." 0.58 11. WIDE OF DOCTORS WITH BANNER 1.01 12. SCU (SOIUNDBITE ENGLISH) IRAQI DOCTOR SAYING " They did nothing, they did nothing till now, but we want to say that we are here to take care of the corrupted health system and change it." 1.11 13. SLV CAR DRIVING PAST PROTESTORS 1.14 14. VARIOUS, DOCTORS MARCHING HOLDING UP POSTERS 1.20 15. VARIOUS, BACK VIEW OF PROTEST /CAR HOOTING HORN IN SUPPORT 1.25 16. SMV BACK VIEW OF DOCTORS 1.32 17. WIDE OF DOCTORS DEMONSTRATION ALONG ROAD 1.36 18. VARIOUS, U.S SOLDIER JUMPING DOWN FROM TANK GUARDING MAIN TRAFFIC INTERSECTION NEAR PALESTINE HOTEL 1.43 19. SMV DOCTORS CHANTING SLOGANS "we will help our nation." 1.50 20. VARIOUS OF PROTESTORS STOPPED BY BARBED WIRE NEAR HOTEL (2 SHOTS) 1.59 21. SMV U.S TANKS POSITIONED IN STREET 2.02 22. SLV DOCTORS WITH POSTER "WE WANT WORK NOT WORDS" 2.07 23. VARIOUS OF PROTEST AT TRAFFIC JUNCTION NEAR PALESTINE HOTEL (2 SHOTS) 2.16 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd May 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA5Q82QCCUAYJ6HMZK1BT4W6RKY
  • Story Text: Iraqi doctors and health workers have taken to the streets to
    streets of Baghdad to protest against the deteriorating health
    system and the appointment of a new heath minister.


    Scores of Iraqi doctors took to the streets of Baghdad
    in Wednesday (May 7) to protest against the deteriorating health
    system and the appointment of a new health ministry with
    connections to the old regime.

    The U.S. civil administration last week appointed Ali
    Shinan, undersecretary under the government of deposed
    President Saddam Hussein, as head of the ministry.

    The Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance
    (ORHA) had planned a news conference on the health ministry
    appointments for Thursday, but has postponed the conference
    for two days, without giving a reason.

    Around 200 doctors from 25 hospitals in Baghdad and the
    provinces chanted: "No more corruption" and "We want a healthy
    health system" during the protest outside the Palestine Hotel
    in central Baghdad.

    Wearing white robes, the doctors carried banners reading
    "No to former administration," and "We demand the swift
    installation of a freely elected Iraqi government."
    Doctors said thhey wanted to see new leaders who had not
    been corrupted by the Saddam Hussein regime, and would
    oversee an overhaul of the crumbling health system.

    "The main problem is that we have old figures, from the old
    regime, still they are taking their main positions in the ministry,"
    a doctor said.

    "They did nothing , they did nothing till now, but we want to say that
    we are here to take care of the corrupted health system and change
    it ," said another doctor.

    Hospitals in Baghdad, hit by power cuts and shortages of
    medical supplies, were badly affected by lawlessness after
    Saddam's fall on April 9.

    Delays in bringing in international aid have also hampered the work of
    doctors in a country already suffering under mismanagement and 13
    years of trade sanctions.

    Some protestors said that the new ministry was made up of old
    corrupted figures who had an effective role in damaging the health
    system.

    The demonstrators demanded the dismissal of all the health
    ministry undersecretaries and directors and improvements in
    resident doctors' living standards.

    Doctors said that their salaries barely cover the cost of transport.

    Buying a car or saving for a wedding and a new home are
    distant dreams.

    Newly qualified doctors in Iraq earned 20,000 to 40,000
    Iraqi dinars ($10-20) a month under the previous government.




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