Health care in Syria before and during the crisis

Abstract

The article discusses the status of the health care system in Syria. Information on the Syrian International Coalition for Health (SICH) is provided. Improvements in the health indicators of Syria include increasing life expectancy, a decline in infant mortality and a downward trend in maternal mortality. In 2009, the total government expenditure on health was 2.9% of gross domestic product. It notes the impact on the Syrian health system of a protracted political and socioeconomic crisis.