New facility sparks ire

Families protest transfer of kidney patients from Kirkuk General Hospital

KIRKUK — Families of kidney patients staged a protest Saturday in Kirkuk, objecting to last month’s decision to move their relatives from Kirkuk General Hospital to Al-Amal Kidney Treatment Center. They say the new location is too small, lacks adequate equipment, and treats patients with infectious diseases, putting their loved ones at risk.

“We are struggling with the cramped conditions of the center and the lack of necessary treatments,” said protester Suhaila Ahmed. “We demand our patients be returned to Kirkuk General Hospital, where the required treatments and specialized doctors are available.”

Another demonstrator, Saad Hossam, voiced concerns about patient overcrowding and the risk of infection. “The center has limited dialysis machines, while the number of patients exceeds 30,” he said. “Some of them have dangerous viruses. The shared use of dialysis and testing equipment risks spreading infections, endangering the lives of our patients.”

In response, Kirkuk Health Director Arjan Mohammed said there are no immediate plans to move patients back to Kirkuk General Hospital. “The contract between the Ministry of Health and the company managing the kidney treatment department at the hospital has expired,” Mohammed told 964media. “Treatment costs at Al-Amal Center are lower than at Kirkuk General Hospital.”

Mohammed dismissed fears of virus transmission, calling allegations of mixing patients with serious infections “inaccurate.” He said doctors at Al-Amal strictly follow preventive measures to avoid bloodborne transmissions. “There is no cause for concern,” he added.

According to Mohammed, funding shortages are a key issue. “Kirkuk’s healthcare system is underfunded because the ministry itself is facing delays in payments from the Ministry of Finance. However, no patient in Kirkuk is left without treatment at the dialysis center or any other health facility,” he said.

He added that the return of kidney patients to Kirkuk General Hospital depends on ministry procedures. “We are waiting for financial allocations to either contract with a new company or renew the agreement with the previous one to resume admitting patients at the hospital,” Mohammed said.