Widespread popular discontent after closure of 20 health centers in Tartous countryside

The Ministry of Health, headed by Minister Maher Al-Shara, brother of the commander of the Military Operations Department Ahmed Al-Shara (Abu Muhammad Al-Julani), announced the closure of a number of health centers in the countryside of Tartous under the pretext of administrative and technical errors in their work, which sparked a state of widespread popular discontent, amid accusations from the people of ignoring their basic health needs, and considering the step part of a broader plan to hit the health sector in the province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Citizens in the villages where the centers were closed confirmed that the decision will leave them without basic medical services at a time when the need for health care is increasing, wondering about the alternatives that the ministry will provide, and criticized the absence of any official announcement about them, considering that the sudden closure will put them in the face of additional health and material burdens, according to the Observatory.

Centers covered by the closure:

Aldi Health Center, Nervousness Health Center, Dahbash Health Center, Yazdiya Health Center, Baamrah Health Center, Aubin Health Center, Ras Al-Khashofa Health Center, Badada Health Center, Taliee Health Center, Hameen Health Center, Darti Health Center, Rosary Health Center, Anaza Bahaneen Health Center, Sheikh Younis House Health Center, Terkoub Health Center, Fattah Nassar Health Center, Al Matares Health Center, Ain Dabash Health Center, Saristan Health Center, Majdolin Al Bahar Health Center.

The residents called on the ministry to review the decision and reopen the centers, or at least, provide real alternatives before implementing the closure, stressing that the health of citizens must be a top priority away from any administrative or political justifications. 

Sh-S

ANHA