The Syrian Future Movement followed with great interest the announcement issued by the Ministry of Health in the Syrian Arab Republic on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, regarding the official launch of the comprehensive health insurance program. This step aims to expand medical coverage and ensure access to healthcare services for a wider segment of the population.
Syrian Minister of Health, Musab Al-Ali, explained that work on this program began in July 2025 through a joint committee between the Ministry of Health and the Insurance Authority, affiliated with the Ministry of Finance.
He clarified that the new health insurance system will cover basic services, emergency cases, medications, prenatal care, dental services, and children’s care for employees subject to insurance deductions.
The Minister emphasized that healthcare services in the country will remain free of charge, and that the government will cover any revenue shortfall to ensure the continued provision of care to citizens.
The government also categorically denied any intention or plan to offer public hospitals for investment or privatization, affirming that public hospitals will continue to provide their services as before.
As for the poor and those unable to afford healthcare, the state will cover their insurance premiums to ensure they are not deprived of medical services. The Minister emphasized that the success of health insurance is linked to improving the quality of healthcare services for citizens, noting that developing the healthcare infrastructure is a fundamental requirement for the success of any insurance system.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that this announcement comes within the context of a series of steps we have previously followed and welcomed, stemming from our firm belief that health is a fundamental human right that cannot be infringed upon or restricted under any circumstances.
On March 25, 2024, the Syrian Future Movement issued its reference paper entitled “The Syrian Future Movement and Health Development,” which stressed the necessity of providing healthcare and pharmaceuticals to citizens regardless of their financial means or place of residence, and affirmed that full and comprehensive health coverage for all citizens is an inherent right and a duty.
In that paper, the Syrian Future Movement also called for expanding health insurance coverage by establishing small health units in all cities, towns, and rural areas, equipping hospitals and clinics with the latest equipment, and working in cooperation with experienced international organizations.
On October 12, 2025, the Syrian Future Movement issued a statement entitled “Declaration of a Roadmap for Reforming the Health Insurance System in Syria,” welcoming the Syrian Minister of Finance’s announcement of a roadmap for reforming the health insurance system. The statement considered this a first step towards addressing the issue of healthcare and ensuring equitable access to it.
In that statement, we affirmed that health insurance is an indivisible human right, based on Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The statement also cautioned against this roadmap becoming merely a formality that fails to address the core of the crisis, emphasizing that genuine reform begins with combating corruption, developing oversight mechanisms, and guaranteeing the independence of health institutions.
On November 27, 2025, the Syrian Future Movement issued a paper entitled “The National Health Charter Towards a Syrian State,” which assessed the “National Health Charter” signed by the Ministries of Health and Finance on November 26, 2025. The paper affirmed that this charter represents, for the first time since the fall of the former regime, a comprehensive national project that transcends political and geographical divisions and establishes the principle of “health as an inalienable constitutional right.”
The paper also recommended that political forces adopt support for the charter as a top political priority, as it constitutes the true test of the new state’s ability to provide equitable and comprehensive public services.
On December 12, 2025, the Syrian Future Movement issued a statement on the occasion of “Universal Health Coverage Day,” reiterating that universal health coverage is a national and ethical imperative, forming a fundamental pillar for achieving social stability, strengthening trust between citizens and the state, and enshrining the concept of equal citizenship.
The statement emphasized the necessity of rebuilding the healthcare system in the new Syria based on a comprehensive national vision grounded in health equity, sustainable financing, enhanced primary healthcare, the independence of healthcare institutions, and support for medical personnel.
The Syrian Future Movement, while monitoring these developments, is fully aware of the magnitude of the challenges facing this ambitious national project and points to the following:
First, the current inadequacy of coverage: Statistics from the Insurance Supervisory Authority for 2023 indicate that the percentage of insured individuals in Syria did not exceed 5% of the population, or approximately 927,000 people, compared to 10% in 2010.
This means that 95% of the population remains outside the umbrella of health insurance.
The transition from 5% to comprehensive coverage requires a massive leap in infrastructure and resources.
Second, the poverty crisis: According to reports from the United Nations Development Programme issued in February 2025, nine out of ten people in Syria live in poverty.
According to the latest World Bank report issued in June 2025, approximately a quarter of Syria’s population lives in extreme poverty, on less than $2.15 a day.
We believe that these figures place the state’s commitment to providing social security for the poor under severe pressure, especially given the already enormous deficit in the public treasury.
Third, the emigration of medical professionals: Estimates indicate that more than 60% of all doctors who were working before the war have left the country, particularly in some critical specialties.
The Minister of Health has acknowledged that the emigration of medical professionals represents a major crisis, exacerbated by shortages in many hospitals, especially in devastated areas.
Fourth, destruction and deterioration: Syria had 104 public hospitals, a large number of which have been destroyed or rendered inoperable.
Furthermore, the dilapidation and absence of medical equipment pose a significant obstacle to improving services.
Based on the above, and adhering to our steadfast national vision, the Syrian Future Movement calls for:
- Transformation Universal health insurance should be a top national priority, with a target of allocating at least 4-6% of GDP to healthcare, compared to 1.5% in 2024.
- Civil society, medical associations, and human rights organizations must be involved in all stages of planning, implementation, and evaluation to ensure genuine representation of citizens’ interests and to avoid unilateral decisions that are detached from reality.
- Absolute transparency must be guaranteed in the allocation of resources and the distribution of health services to all Syrian regions without exception or discrimination.
- Health sector reform must be linked to a comprehensive reform system that includes combating corruption, improving living conditions, promoting transitional justice, and rebuilding trust between the state and its citizens.
- Medical personnel must be supported by improving their social conditions, providing training and protection programs, and ensuring the return of expatriate professionals to contribute to the reconstruction of the health sector.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the announcement of the launch of the universal health insurance system represents a true test of the new Syrian state’s commitment to its responsibilities towards its citizens and its respect for the international conventions it has ratified. It also represents a practical embodiment of the principle of partnership between the state and society that we aspire to in the new Syria.
We reaffirm our confidence in the Syrian people’s ability to overcome challenges, and we emphasize the readiness of the Syrian Future Movement to contribute all its resources to the success of this great national project, based on our firm belief that health is a right, not a privilege, and that in the new Syria, the health of every citizen must be a red line that cannot be crossed.
