Al-Sudani orders support for Iraqi public sector workers battling cancer and kidney failure

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani has directed Iraqi ministries and security institutions to simplify administrative procedures and provide additional support to public employees undergoing treatment for cancer or kidney failure, as part of what officials called a humanitarian initiative.

The directive, issued Wednesday, mandates state agencies to ease bureaucratic burdens and accommodate the needs of civil servants facing serious health challenges. In 2024, Iraq recorded more than 43,000 new cancer cases, with an incidence rate of 171.6 per 100,000 people, according to government data.

A statement from the Joint Operations Command described the move as stemming from the prime minister’s “humanitarian and paternal approach.” Al-Sudani called on institutions to “honor their members suffering from cancer and those receiving kidney dialysis treatment, and to provide them with psychological support in recognition of their condition, in a way that strengthens their resilience and improves their morale.”

Among the measures outlined are exemptions from the daily biometric time tracking commonly used in Iraqi government offices, flexible leave policies tailored to treatment and recovery schedules, and the possibility of financial assistance based on each ministry’s available budget.

Al-Sudani also urged the Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah to exempt eligible patients from the annual lottery system that determines who may participate in the pilgrimage. Iraqi Airways was similarly instructed to offer reduced airfare for patients needing to travel for medical care.