Contract signed for 13-facility medical ‘city’ in Dhi Qar

DHI QAR — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani oversaw the signing of a contract with China State Construction Engineering Corporation on Saturday for the construction of a ‘medical city’ in Dhi Qar Governorate, valued at 490 billion Iraqi dinars (around $350m).

According to a statement from Al-Sudani’s media office, the project will include 13 medical facilities, including seven hospitals with a combined capacity of 700 beds. “The people of Dhi Qar—who have long demonstrated resilience and sacrifice—deserve a vital project of this scale,” Al-Sudani said.

Statement from Al-Sudani’s media office:

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani presided over the signing ceremony of the contract to construct a comprehensive Medical City in Dhi Qar Province. The contract was awarded to China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and marks one of the most significant healthcare infrastructure investments in Iraq’s history.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani commended the efforts of the Dhi Qar Reconstruction Fund, the Ministry of Health, and all supporting institutions for their role in finalizing the contract, valued at 490 billion Iraqi dinars. He confirmed that construction of the project will commence shortly and stressed that the people of Dhi Qar—who have long demonstrated resilience and sacrifice—deserve a vital project of this scale, one that will not only provide economic returns but also alleviate the need for citizens to seek medical treatment abroad.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani reiterated that the health sector remains a top priority on the government’s agenda. He emphasized the need to continue advancing healthcare projects as part of broader structural reforms, including the implementation of the Health Insurance Law and the localization of pharmaceutical production—areas in which tangible progress has already been made, noting the government’s commitment to building seven hospitals across several provinces, finalizing delayed hospital projects through joint operation and public-private management models in collaboration with world-class international healthcare providers.

The Dhi Qar Medical City will include 13 integrated medical facilities, including seven hospitals with a total capacity of 700 beds. The project’s key components are as follows:
• A 200-bed general hospital
• A 100-bed pediatric specialty hospital
• A 100-bed women’s hospital
• A 100-bed hematology and oncology center
• A 100-bed Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Specialty Hospital
• A 50-bed emergency hospital
• A Specialized Outpatient Clinics Complex

Additional facilities include specialized centers, buildings for forensic medicine, research and studies, a blood bank, and on-site residential facilities for medical professionals. The project’s first phase will cover an area of 93 dunums, with the second phase expanding by an additional 39 dunums.