Syrian and Iranian health ministries reach agreement on joint executive program

Health Minister Wael al-Halqi said that his visit to Iran resulted in reaching an agreement on a joint executive program between the Syrian and Iranian Health Ministries that covers providing 50 ambulances to Syria. In a statement upon his return from Tehran, al-Halqi said that the two sides also agreed to provide medical equipment and supplies such as dialysis machines valued at USD 1 million to Syrian hospitals which were damaged by terrorists. He pointed out that the Iranian Red Crescent Society promised to provide Syria with ambulances and medical equipment, which Iranian pharmaceutical companies will offer medicine for chronic diseases valued at SYP 50 million, noting that these types of medicine aren't manufactured in Syria and are hard to procure from Europe due to the economic sanctions against Syria. The minister detailed his activities and meetings during his visit to Iran, saying that Syrian doctors are set to be sent to Iran for optometry training, and that he discussed the possibility of Iranian companies providing equipment to Syrian hospitals through loans. He added that the two sides agreed to hold an expo for pharmaceuticals, technology, housing and energy, and that Iran voiced readiness to train 100 Syrian doctors and providing scholarships and exchange programs for boosting expertise in certain medical fields such as liver transplant, stem-cell research and optometry.