Wheelman

Bloomberg) -- The Kuwaiti dinar’s peg to a basket of currencies is coming under scrutiny as concerns grow that one of the world’s richest nations is running short of cash. Derivatives are showing signs of pressure after 12-month forward contracts on the Kuwaiti dinar rose to about 305 points in the offshore market Thursday, the highest since the oil rout in March. Most other Gulf currency forwards have declined this year as the recent recovery in crude prices eases the risks to their energy-dependent economies. While other Gulf Arab states tapped global debt markets to bolster strained finances amid the pandemic, Kuwait has been hamstrung by lawmakers’ resistance to approve a law that would enable the government to borrow. Concern over how Kuwait will cover its budget deficit has become more acute after the government transferred the last of its performing assets to the country’s sovereign wealth fund in exchange for cash.

THE ARAB MONETARY FUND (AMF) HOLDS A VIRTUAL WORKSHOP ON BUNA ENTRY IN FULL OPERATIONS 07-01-2021 The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) holds a virtual workshop on Buna entry in full operations The workshop will take place Today, Thursday January 7, 2021 More than 200 senior officials will attend, representing a wide spectrum of financial institutions from the region and beyond Speakers from the banking sector to share their views on Buna’s start of operations Abu Dhabi, 07 January 2021: The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) holds today, Thursday January 7, 2021 a workshop titled “Buna in Operations”, to shed light on the different aspects related to Buna (the cross-border payment system owned by the AMF) entry in full operations and the onboarding of the first wave of participation. The workshop will host more than 200 senior officials representing various institutions from the financial, banking and payment sectors from the region and other international markets, looking to learn more about Buna’s operations, work progress and future plans. During the workshop, high-level speakers from the banking sector along with Buna executive team, will share their views on Buna’s completion of the phased go live approach and the start of onboarding in production of participants. The speakers will also discuss the different key phases of Buna establishment from the launching stage to the operations one and plans for the year 2021 and beyond. At this occasion, Mehdi Manaa, Chief Executive Officer of Buna said: “Buna is now fully operational and totally equipped to achieve its business goals and realize its vision to empower Arab economies and promote regional integration, by providing efficient cross-border payments and supporting investment ties in the region and with global trading partners. As an innovative and secure multicurrency payment system that delivers cross-border settlement in real-time, we are keen to attract and onboard a diversified and broad network of participant banks from the region and beyond, and to demonstrate the added value we bring to the region financial sector and the global payment industry.” “with the support of all the industry stakeholders, led by the Arab central Banks and the Arab Monetary Fund we are delivering our objectives and we will continue bringing value to our participants and supporting them in growing their offering, thanks to our innovative solutions, high commitment to compliance and security standards.” Added Manaa. Buna, is a cross-border payment system owned by the Arab Monetary Fund, aiming to enable financial institutions and central banks in the Arab region and beyond to send and receive payments in local currencies as well as key international currencies in a safe, cost- effective, risk-controlled, and transparent environment. Buna offers participants modern payment solutions that comply with international standards, principles, and international compliance requirements. Thanks to its cross-border payment system Buna contributes to exploring and strengthening opportunities for economic and financial integration in the Arab region and supporting investment ties with the global trading partners. Buna welcomes the inclusion of all banks that meet the criteria and conditions for participation, primarily the standards and procedures of compliance aspects.

Country Policy and Information Note Iraq: Medical and healthcare provision Version 2.0 January 2021 Page 2 of 76 Preface Purpose This note provides country of origin information (COI) and analysis of COI for use by Home Office decision makers handling particular types of protection and human rights claims (as set out in the Introduction section). It is not intended to be an exhaustive survey of a particular subject or theme. It is split into two main sections: (1) analysis and assessment of COI and other evidence; and (2) COI. These are explained in more detail below. Country of origin information The country information in this note has been carefully selected in accordance with the general principles of COI research as set out in the Common EU [European Union] Guidelines for Processing Country of Origin Information (COI), dated April 2008, and the Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation’s (ACCORD), Researching Country Origin Information – Training Manual, 2013. Namely, taking into account the COI’s relevance, reliability, accuracy, balance, currency, transparency and traceability. The structure and content of the country information section follows a terms of reference which sets out the general and specific topics relevant to this note. All information included in the note was published or made publicly available on or before the ‘cut-off’ date(s) in the country information section. Any event taking place or report/article published after these date(s) is not included. All information is publicly accessible or can be made publicly available, and is from generally reliable sources. Sources and the information they provide are carefully considered before inclusion. Factors relevant to the assessment of the reliability of sources and information include: • the motivation, purpose, knowledge and experience of the source • how the information was obtained, including specific methodologies used • the currency and detail of information, and • whether the COI is consistent with and/or corroborated by other sources. Multiple sourcing is used to ensure that the information is accurate, balanced and corroborated, so that a comprehensive and up-to-date picture at the time of publication is provided of the issues relevant to this note. Information is compared and contrasted, whenever possible, to provide a range of views and opinions. The inclusion of a source, however, is not an endorsement of it or any view(s) expressed. Each piece of information is referenced in a brief footnote; full details of all sources cited and consulted in compiling the note are listed alphabetically in the bibliography. Page 3 of 76 MedCOI Project MedCOI is an Asylum and Migration Integration Fund (AMIF) financed project to obtain medical country of origin information. The project currently allows 11 European Union member states plus the UK, Norway and Switzerland to make use of the services of the ‘MedCOI’ team in the Netherlands and Belgium. The MedCOI team makes enquiries with qualified doctors and other experts working in countries of origin. The information obtained is reviewed by the MedCOI team, which includes medical doctors, before it is forwarded to the relevant COI Service. The Belgian Desk on Accessibility (BDA) of the Immigration Office in Belgium forms part of Project MedCOI. Feedback Our goal is to continuously improve our material. Therefore, if you would like to comment on this note, please email the Country Policy and Information Team. Page 4 of 76 Contents Information ............................................................................................................... 5 Country information................................................................................................. 6 1. Structure of the healthcare system .................................................................. 6 2. Statistics .......................................................................................................... 7 3. Cancer (oncology) ........................................................................................... 9 4. Cardiology (heart conditions)......................................................................... 13 5. COVID-19 ...................................................................................................... 23 6. Dental treatment ............................................................................................ 24 7. Diabetes ........................................................................................................ 24 8. Eye conditions (including ophthalmology)...................................................... 30 9. Geriatrics ....................................................................................................... 35 10. Haematology.................................................................................................. 35 11. Hepatitis......................................................................................................... 38 12. HIV/AIDs........................................................................................................ 39 13. Mental health ................................................................................................. 41 14. Nephrology (kidney diseases)........................................................................ 50 15. Neurological conditions.................................................................................. 53 16. Obstetrics and reproductive health ................................................................ 60 17. Paediatrics..................................................................................................... 63 18. Palliative care ................................................................................................ 65 19. Tuberculosis (TB) and other lung diseases ................................................... 66 19.1Tuberculosis........................................................................................... 66 19.2Other pulmonology conditions ................................................................ 67 Terms of Reference................................................................................................ 72 Bibliography ........................................................................................................... 74 Sources cited........................................................................................................ 74 Sources consulted but not cited............................................................................ 75 Version control....................................................................................................... 76 Page 5 of 76 Information Updated: 12 January 2021 Guidance on medical claims For general guidance on considering cases where a person claims that to remove them from the UK would be a breach Articles 3 and / or 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) because of an ongoing health condition, see the instruction on Human rights claims on medical grounds. Back to Contents Page 6 of 76 Country information Section 1 updated: 12 January 2021 1. Structure of the healthcare system 1.1.1 The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Iraq country information report published on 17 August 2020 stated: ‘Article 31 (1) of the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to health care. It commits the State to maintaining public health, and providing the means of prevention and treatment by building different types of hospitals and health institutions. Article 31 (2) guarantees individuals and entities the right to build hospitals, clinics or private health care centres under State supervision. The Ministry of Health (MoH) is the primary health care provider.’ 1 1.1.2 A report produced by the World Bank Group (WBG) in February 2017 (the most recent of its kind to date) entitled ‘Iraq – Systematic Country Diagnostic’ stated: ‘Access to health services is limited, and geographical disparities are significant. In the public sector, health services are provided through a network of primary health care centers (PHCC) and public hospitals at very low charges. The PHCCs provide preventive and basic curative services. The main centers are located in urban areas with smaller centers in rural areas. Poor organization and shortages of staff and medications are significant impediments to delivering adequate services in the PHCCs. Despite this, the PHCCs are recognized as very important sources of health care provision, particularly for the poor. ‘For secondary and tertiary care, patients are referred from PHCCs to hospitals, although it is estimated that only about 40 percent of Iraqis have access to these referral services because of the inadequate number and uneven distribution of public hospitals. Secondary and tertiary care are also provided by small private hospitals. Since there are no health insurance schemes in Iraq, the costs of private health care must be met out-of-pocket, which is well beyond the reach of many Iraqis… Most of the health sector in Iraq is financed by the government with a small but growing private sector financed by out-of-pocket payments from patients.’2 1.1.3 In May 2019 the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) published a report entitled ‘International Protection Considerations with Regard to People Fleeing the Republic of Iraq’. The report, citing various sources, stated: ‘Over the past decades, Iraq’s public health care system has seen a steady decline as a result of cycles of conflict, years of economic sanctions, funding shortfalls, corruption and neglect. The conflict against ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] severely damaged or destroyed many healthcare facilities and despite the rehabilitation of part of these facilities, capacity has not yet reached pre-war levels. 1 DFAT, ‘Country Information Report: Iraq’, (para 2.32), 17 August 2020 2 WBG, ‘Iraq – Systematic Country Diagnostic’, (p83), 3 February 2017 Page 7 of 76 ‘Public health facilities are often poorly maintained and recurring shortages of medicines are a major concern, as is the lack of qualified health workers. Conditions are relatively better in the KR-I [Kurdistan Region of Iraq]; however, the region’s health care infrastructure has been overstretched as a result of high numbers of displaced persons, and the rise in conflict-related injuries and disabilities.’3 1.1.4 The Borgen Project, a US non-profit organisation raising awareness of international poverty, noted in its July 2020 ‘6 Facts about Healthcare in Iraq’: ‘Around half of the primary care facilities in the country are currently not staffed by doctors. The majority of these buildings have no access to running water, worn-out machines and shortages of medicine along with other basic medical supplies. The doctors present are often overspecialized and in need of more thorough training.’ 4 Back to Contents Section 2 updated: 12 January 2021 2. Statistics 2.1.1 On 2 March 2020 Reuters published an article entitled ‘The medical crisis that’s aggravating Iraq’s unrest’ which stated that Iraq has 1.1 hospital beds and 0.8 doctors per 1000 people whereas the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI) has 1.5 beds and 1.4 doctors per 1000 people. The same report further stated that in 2018 Iraq had 2.1 nurses and midwives per thousand people. Additionally the same source stated that according to Iraq’s medical association, around 20,000 doctors have left the country since the 1990s5 . The Iraqi government now offers returning doctors easy access to employment and higher salaries. In spite of this, returners are few and far between6 . 2.1.2 In March 2020 the World Food Programme (WFP) published the ‘Iraq Socialeconomic Atlas 2019’. The report stated that: ‘..the Iraqi government offers its citizens universal healthcare and medical supplies at a subsidised cost. However, the public healthcare system faces chronic impediments. For example, the rate of less than one hospital per 100,000 persons is rather low and has recently fallen as a consequence of the strategical destruction of health facilities by ISIL forces during conflict. Lower incidences of hospitals and physicians are observed in the governorates of Kirkuk, Thi-Qar, Nainawa, Maysan and Anbar.’7 2.1.3 The same source further published the following maps8 : 3 UNHCR, ‘…Protection Considerations with Regard to People Fleeing…Iraq’, (p53-54), May 2019 4 Borgen Project, ‘6 Facts about healthcare in Iraq’, 28 July 2020 5 Reuters, ‘Broken Health – the medical crisis that’s aggravating Iraq’s unrest’, 2 March 2020 6 Borgen Project, ‘6 Facts about healthcare in Iraq’, 28 July 2020 7 WFP, ‘Iraq Social-Economic Atlas 2019’, (p40), 30 March 2020 8 WFP, ‘Iraq Social-Economic Atlas 2019’, (p51-52), 30 March 2020 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/953512/Iraq_-_Medical_and_healthcare_provision_-_v2.0_-_January_2021_-_ext.pdf

[size=40]parliamentary finance: iraq is likely to have monthly rather than annual budgets Author: Ahad7 On 09/5/2020 - 12:15 PM 29[/size] The Parliamentary Finance Committee announced, on Saturday, that Iraq may have monthly, rather than annual, budgets as before. Member of the Finance Committee, Shirvan Mirza, said, "The variation in oil prices and the possibility that Iraq will not have an annual budget, as happened in previous years, is very likely." He added, "Maybe the budget will be monthly, according to oil prices and the movement of global markets, and imports and expenditures will be determined accordingly."

2020-12-25 | 02:42 24,635 Views On Friday, the International Monetary Fund welcomed the approval of the Iraqi Council of Ministers to the 2021 budget bill, while it considered implementing important financial reforms and reducing the currency exchange rate as "very important" steps. The Iraqi News Agency quoted a mission International Monetary Fund BIraq She said that she welcomes the "approval by the cabinet of the draft general budget bill for the fiscal year 2021," indicating that "a decisive re-calibration of economic policies must be made in order to maintain the stability of the economy." The mission added that "implementing important financial reforms and reducing the currency exchange rate are very important steps." And the mission continued: "We are ready to support the reform efforts made by the Iraqi government."

Article 103 First The Central Bank of Iraq, the Board of Supreme Audit, the Communication and Media Commission, and the Endowment Commissions are financially and administratively independent institutions, and the work of each of these institutions shall be regulated by law. • Establishment of military courts • Human rights commission • Counter corruption commission • Electoral commission • Human rights commission • Central bank constituteproject.org PDF generated: 20 Jul 2020, 22:03 Second The Central Bank of Iraq is responsible before the Council of Representatives. The Board of Supreme Audit and the Communication and Media Commission shall be attached to the Council of Representatives. Third The Endowment Commissions shall be attached to the Council of Ministers.

[size=40]parliamentary finance: iraq is likely to have monthly rather than annual budgets Author: Ahad7 On 09/5/2020 - 12:15 PM 29[/size] The Parliamentary Finance Committee announced, on Saturday, that Iraq may have monthly, rather than annual, budgets as before. Member of the Finance Committee, Shirvan Mirza, said, "The variation in oil prices and the possibility that Iraq will not have an annual budget, as happened in previous years, is very likely." He added, "Maybe the budget will be monthly, according to oil prices and the movement of global markets, and imports and expenditures will be determined accordingly."

Good Morning all, from Joey, their is hope, the reason for hope, it’s clearly being demonstrated, we all seek Peace and Security, and prosperity in this world. Stay focused, stay healthy, stay safe. Think hard about what this article is revealing to us about our investment. They will need a monthly budget because of skyrocketing investment. A yearly budget can't contain what is coming !!! The Iraqi people will finally see the promise to return Iraq to it's historic relevance!!! Memory Lane, remember they told us this on May 9, 2020: The Parliamentary Finance Committee announced, on Saturday, that Iraq may have monthly, rather than annual, budgets as before. Member of the Finance Committee, Shirvan Mirza, said, "The variation in oil prices and the possibility that Iraq will not have an annual budget, as happened in previous years, is very likely." He added, "Maybe the budget will be monthly, according to oil prices and the movement of global markets, and imports and expenditures will be determined accordingly."

Not buying it! They will never join the WTO in 2021 without a tradable currency, besides what are the contractors getting paid in for the reconstruction projects, USD or Iraqi Dinar. In my opinion, this is a smokescreen.

Good feedback. Thanks

One question, how did they get to the 35th session, without passing the budget in the 34th session, cause articles 57 of the constitution clearly states the session shall not end until approval of the budget.

Article 57 The Council of Representatives shall have one annual term, with two legislative sessions, lasting eight months. The bylaws shall define the method to convene the sessions. The session in which the general budget is being presented shall not end until approval of the budget.

Iraq Constitution states the following: Article 30 First The State shall guarantee to the individual and the family - especially children and women – social and health security, the basic requirements for living a free and decent life, and shall secure for them suitable income and appropriate housing. Second The State shall guarantee social and health security to Iraqis in cases of old age, sickness, employment disability, homelessness, orphanhood, or unemployment, shall work to protect them from ignorance, fear and poverty, and shall provide them housing and special programs of care and rehabilitation, and this shall be regulated by law.

Thanks to Dr. Sinan Al-Shabibi.

This is Parliamentary Procedure: Article: 22 First: The House of Representatives has an annual session with two legislative seasons of eight months, the first of which begins on March 1 and ends on June 30 of each year, and the second begins on September 1 and ends on December 31. Second: The legislative term in which the state’s general budget is presented does not end without approval. Third: Council sessions are held at least two days a week, and the Presidency Commission may extend or specify them as necessary.

This is Parliament Procedures: Article: 31 The Council exercises the following legislative powers: First: the issuance of its bylaw. Second: Legislating the law that deals with the replacement of its members in the event of resignation, dismissal, death, or loss of membership for any other reason. Third: Examining the draft laws proposed by the Presidency Council or the Council of Ministers, including the two draft laws of the state’s general budget and the supplementary budget, and approving the final account. Ministers increase the total amounts of expenditures in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution. Fourth: Approving an independent and adequate budget for the judiciary. Fifth: Approving the budget of the Council of Representatives and its committees. Sixth: Considering draft laws proposed by members of the council and its committees. Seventh: In the event that the Presidency Council does not approve of the laws, they are returned to the House of Representatives to review the disputed aspects and vote on them by majority, and they are sent again to the Presidency Council for approval, and in the event that the Presidency Commission does not approve the laws again, within ten days from the date of their arrival to it. It is returned to the House of Representatives, which may approve it by a three-fifths majority of its members, without objection, and is deemed ratified. This is the Iraqi Constitution: Article: 62 First The Council of Ministers shall submit the draft general budget bill and the closing account to the Council of Representatives for approval. Second The Council of Representatives may conduct transfers between the sections and chapters of the general budget and reduce the total of its sums, and it may suggest to the Council of Ministers that they increase the total expenses, when necessary.

Article 141 Legislation enacted in the region of Kurdistan since 1992 shall remain in force, and decisions issued by the government of the region of Kurdistan, including court decisions and contracts, shall be considered valid unless they are amended or annulled pursuant to the laws of the region of Kurdistan by the competent entity in the region, provided that they do not contradict with the Constitution.

Article 58 First The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Council of Representatives, or fifty members of the Council of Representatives may call the Council to an extraordinary session. The session shall be restricted to the topics that necessitated the call for the session. Second The legislative session of the Council of Representatives may be extended for no more than 30 days to complete the tasks that require the extension, based on a request from the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Council, or fifty members of the Council of Representatives.

Article 140 First The executive authority shall undertake the necessary steps to complete the implementation of the requirements of all subparagraphs of Article 58 of the Transitional Administrative Law. Second The responsibility placed upon the executive branch of the Iraqi Transitional Government stipulated in Article 58 of the Transitional Administrative Law shall extend and continue to the executive authority elected in accordance with this Constitution, provided that it accomplishes completely (normalization and census and concludes with a referendum in Kirkuk and other disputed territories to determine the will of their citizens), by a date not to exceed the 31st of December 2007.

Stay calm, this is only a economist opinion!

China OUT! 🥊🥊🥊

Gradual and Spontaneous no Fanfare.

Gradual, Spontaneous, No Fanfare!

This should definitely stop the auctions.

Article 103 First The Central Bank of Iraq, the Board of Supreme Audit, the Communication and Media Commission, and the Endowment Commissions are financially and administratively independent institutions, and the work of each of these institutions shall be regulated by law. • Establishment of military courts • Human rights commission • Counter corruption commission • Electoral commission • Human rights commission • Central bank Second The Central Bank of Iraq is responsible before the Council of Representatives. The Board of Supreme Audit and the Communication and Media Commission shall be attached to the Council of Representatives. Third The Endowment Commissions shall be attached to the Council of Ministers.