Advancing Palliative Care in Iraq: A Successful Workshop at Hiwa Hospital, Sulaymaniyah

8–9 June 2026

At a particularly challenging time, I had the privilege of travelling to the beautiful city of Sulaymaniyah to lead a specialised workshop in palliative care for medical and nursing professionals from across Iraq.

With gratitude to God, the workshop was successfully completed at the conference hall of Hiwa Hospital for Oncology in Sulaymaniyah, bringing together healthcare professionals who share a commitment to improving care for patients living with chronic illnesses and cancer.

The workshop was honoured by the participation of specialists from the American University of Beirut Medical Center, who kindly delivered their valuable lectures through the Zoom platform due to the prevailing circumstances and the difficulties preventing their travel to Iraq.

It was a highly successful and engaging educational event, characterised by active participation, meaningful discussions, and valuable contributions from the attendees. The participants demonstrated great enthusiasm and dedication to gaining new knowledge and practical skills, with the aim of sharing their learning with colleagues in healthcare centres across Iraq.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of this important initiative in the field of palliative care — a specialty that requires significant development and continued efforts to ensure that patients with serious and life-limiting illnesses receive compassionate, high-quality, and dignified care.

Special thanks go to the organising committee from Left Sphere, particularly Dr Ata Kayan and his outstanding team, whose dedication and hard work played a key role in making this workshop possible. I also extend my appreciation to AstraZeneca, and to Pharmacist Dr Dana Mohammed and his team for their valuable support.

My sincere gratitude also goes to the expert team from the American University of Beirut Medical Center:

• Consultant Dr Nazim Basil
• Nurse Joelle Basita
• Psychotherapist Hala Al-Amin

Their scientific contributions and expertise greatly enriched the programme and provided participants with valuable insights into modern approaches to palliative care.

I would also like to thank Hiwa Hospital for Oncology in Sulaymaniyah for hosting this workshop and for providing all the support and facilities that contributed to its success.

My deepest appreciation goes to all participants who attended the workshop. I hope this experience provided them with practical knowledge and skills that will positively influence the care they provide to their patients.

It is often said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This workshop represents, by the grace of God, an important and positive step forward in strengthening palliative care services in Iraq.

Palliative care is a vital and essential area of healthcare that deserves greater attention, investment, and development. Further meaningful steps are needed to advance these services and ensure that every Iraqi patient has access to compassionate, humane, and advanced healthcare that respects their dignity and quality of life.

The journey to Sulaymaniyah was not without challenges. The airspace was temporarily closed for a short period, creating additional difficulties; however, through determination, cooperation, and the commitment of everyone involved, the workshop was successfully delivered.

I sincerely hope that similar training programmes will continue in the future, reaching a larger number of Iraqi healthcare professionals and helping to build a stronger foundation for palliative care across the country.

﴿ And say: Do [good] deeds, for Allah will see your deeds ﴾

Dr Rafid Aziz
President, Iraqi Medical Association – United Kingdom & Ireland