Suspicions surround hospital projects.. Is corruption hindering the Chinese agreement in Iraq?

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[size=52]Suspicions surround hospital projects.. Is corruption hindering the Chinese agreement in Iraq?[/size]

[size=45]Amidst the escalating controversy over the implementation of the Chinese-Iraqi agreement, suspicions of corruption have begun to increase regarding projects to build dozens of hospitals in various Iraqi governorates.[/size]
[size=45]According to informed sources, reports indicate that there are financial and administrative violations in these projects, which raises doubts about the credibility of implementing the agreement that was signed with the aim of developing the health sector infrastructure in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]These accusations come at a time when the health system is facing major challenges, amid calls for urgent investigation and ensuring transparency in project implementation to ensure that citizens benefit from the desired health services.[/size]
[size=45]The Parliamentary Health Committee hinted at the existence of “suspicions of corruption” in projects to build dozens of hospitals in Iraqi governorates, as part of the Chinese agreement.[/size]
[size=45]The head of the committee, Majid Shankali, said, “The Chinese agreement includes the establishment of a 100-bed hospital in 16 districts in Baghdad and one in each governorate,” indicating that “the Ministry of Health has been authorized to open direct invitations to companies.”[/size]
[size=45]He explained that “a committee in the Ministry of Health studied the submitted files and excluded many companies, and what remains is 36 companies,” adding that “the file was referred to the Prime Minister’s Office, and as a result a committee was formed, and 6 companies were excluded, and 30 companies remain.”[/size]
[size=45]Shankali continued, “The file was supposed to be returned to the Ministry of Health so that there would be competition between the 30 companies in terms of prices and efficiency, but we were surprised that 11 companies were chosen, including 5 companies that are building two hospitals,” noting that “the selection of these companies indicates suspicions of corruption.”[/size]
[size=45]The head of the parliamentary health committee announced “the objection to this choice,” and said, “We sent a letter to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health, and we are awaiting the response.”[/size]
[size=45]In this context, Shankali said in a post, “The Prime Minister must reconsider his office’s letter to the Ministry of Health regarding the Chinese loan hospitals by referring them to Egyptian, Turkish and Chinese companies, because these companies began, before the referral and contracting procedures, to contact Iraqi companies to implement these hospitals under a subcontract.”[/size]
[size=45]He asked, “If the Iraqi companies are the ones who will implement it in the first place, why were they not referred and contracted with instead of the non-Iraqi companies that were recommended for referral?!”[/size]
[size=45]According to economic experts, suspicions of corruption in hospital construction projects under the Chinese agreement could negatively impact Iraq’s economy in several ways. First, these violations disrupt the completion of vital projects aimed at improving health infrastructure, delaying citizens’ access to health services and burdening the state with additional costs.[/size]
[size=45]Suspicions of corruption erode the confidence of foreign and local investors in Iraq’s ability to implement major projects transparently and efficiently, reducing Iraq’s attractiveness as an investment destination. This could deprive the country of important investment opportunities in other sectors.[/size]
[size=45]These violations also undermine the expected economic benefits of the Chinese agreement, which was intended to stimulate economic growth through infrastructure development and the creation of new job opportunities. Instead, corruption becomes an obstacle to achieving these goals, exacerbating the economic and financial crises facing Iraq.[/size]
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