Medical education and training in Iraq

Since the establishment of the Iraqi Governing Council and the inauguration of the cabinet, communication and collaboration has begun between Iraqi health professionals, academics, and their professional organisations and their counterparts abroad. Hopefully, a new democratic Iraq will bring back many intellectuals who left during [Saddam Hussein]'s rule. But Iraqi health professionals and authorities will require all the help they can get from the outside world. Assistance could be in the form of establishing an active process of dialogue, exchanges of visits, and accommodating Iraqi health-care professionals in western countries for brief periods to help them catch up with the latest developments in medicine. The US-led Coalition Provisional Authority has expressed keen interest in supporting such efforts during the next couple of years while the Governing Council is focused on preparing for fair elections and a solid democratic constitution. It will be up to the Iraqis, supported by willing partners abroad, to establish a modern, democratic, and ethical system of modern medical education and training in Iraq.