Penalized hospital in North and East Syria reopens, providing free medical services in Zalin (Qamishli)

ZALIN ܙܐܠܝܢ (QAMISHLI), Syria – On Monday, the Health Directorate of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria announced the closer of seven private hospitals in Zalin (Qamishli) and Dayrik (Al-Malikiyah) for four days during April due to the lack of commitment to medical tariffs and their reluctance to receive emergency cases.

The temporary closures come after several hospitals refused to receive ambulances that were then ferried from one hospital to another. The move is intended as a warning to other private hospitals in the area refusing to admit more costly emergency patients.

In an interview with SuroyoTV, Dr. Iyad Abdul Karim, Director of Farman Hospital in Zalin (Qamishli), stated that decision negatively affected the crisis-exhausted citizens of the region and prompted the Movement for the Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) to launch discussions between the DAA Health Directorate officials and the directors of private hospitals in the region aimed at coming to an agreement about the status of the private hospitals.

The initiative sought the suspension of the decision and the reopening of some of the closed hospitals due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“We in Farman Hospital have taken a special initiative to provide free medical services to all the local patients,” said Dr. Karim.

The status of the other closed hospitals remains unresolved.