With funding from the Government of Germany through KfW Development Bank, the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to rehabilitate priority public hospitals and restore access to essential secondary health-care services in Syria. 

Health Minister H.E. Dr Musab al-Ali highlighted that the agreement is part of the Ministry’s strategic plan to rehabilitate damaged health infrastructure, noting that it will help facilitate citizens’ access to health services in their areas. “Joint engineering teams from UNDP and the Ministry have conducted field visits to the targeted health facilities, and tender documents and technical specifications are currently being prepared ahead of launching the projects for qualified specialized companies, with the aim of delivering high-quality implementation in the shortest possible time”, He added.

The Government of Germany’s EUR 30 million contribution will support a 36-month project to restore the operational readiness of five public referral hospitals in Hama, Homs, Idleb, Dara’a, and Deir-ez-Zor, where services have been severely disrupted by years of conflict. Upon completion, the rehabilitated hospitals are expected to serve approximately 895,000 people and restore a combined capacity of about 520 hospital beds. 

Annette Chammas, Head of the Middle East Division at the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development said: “Our long-term commitment to the health sector in Syria underscores our dedication to improving the living conditions of all Syrians. Equitable access to health services plays a critical role in the country’s sustainable and inclusive recovery. With 30 million EUR in funding, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), together with UNDP, aims to strengthen Syria’s health system through the rehabilitation of hospitals and primary health care centres, essential institutions in addressing the urgent needs of over 15.9 million people requiring health assistance. We deeply value our collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Syria, which works tirelessly on ensuring access to health care services in underserved communities.”