In the Kurdistan Region, the number of private hospitals is drawing significantly closer to that of public hospitals, marking what observers describe as “a notable shift in the healthcare sector.”

According to official statistics, Erbil has the highest concentration of private hospitals, while “thousands of healthcare workers across the region provide vital services to citizens.”

A Balance Between Public and Private

Currently, there are 83 public hospitals across the Kurdistan Region, distributed as follows: 25 in Erbil, 25 in Sulaymaniyah, 15 in Duhok, 5 in Halabja, 7 in the Raparin independent administration, 4 in Garmiyan independent administration, and 2 in Koya.

In comparison, 68 private hospitals operate across the region, with the majority located in Erbil (30). Sulaymaniyah has 20, Duhok 13, Halabja 1, Raparin 2, and Garmiyan 2. Officials say these figures “reflect the steady expansion of the private healthcare sector.”

Healthcare Workforce

The Ministry of Health reports 49,920 permanent employees and 1,250 contracted staff working in the region’s healthcare system.

Among specialists, there are 7,871 physicians, 1,464 dentists, 1,094 pharmacists, and 22,147 nurses, a workforce that the ministry describes as “essential to sustaining the scale of healthcare services in the Kurdistan Region.”