On April 7, 2026, as the world celebrates World Health Day under the theme “Together for Health, Support Science,” which this year focuses on multilateral scientific partnerships within the framework of “One Health” that connects human, animal, and environmental health, the Syrian Future Movement extends its deepest respect and appreciation to all the medical, nursing, and administrative staff who persevered in the Syrian health sector throughout the years of the unjust war, and to international humanitarian organizations, foremost among them the World Health Organization, which documented the scale of the catastrophe.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that the health tragedy in Syria was not a result of natural circumstances, but rather a deliberate consequence of the policies of the former regime, which targeted hospitals and health centers with bombing and siege, causing the displacement and emigration of more than 70% of qualified medical personnel, according to estimates by the World Health Organization.
Today, only 58% of hospitals and 23% of primary healthcare centers are fully operational, while some 16.7 million Syrians require urgent medical assistance, up from 15 million in 2024.
The Syrian Future Movement notes that the transitional phase Syria is experiencing after liberation presents a historic opportunity to rebuild the health sector on equitable national foundations. However, it faces enormous challenges, most notably the return of some 3 million refugees and internally displaced persons to areas where healthcare infrastructure has been destroyed. Additionally, some 210,000 medical referrals were suspended in the past two months due to funding shortages. The health sector’s needs for 2025 were estimated at $565.5 million, of which only 20% has been funded.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates the efforts of the Syrian health sector, with its various independent and parallel components, during the revolution. Despite the siege, it managed to provide hundreds of thousands of health services in liberated areas, including more than 177,000 family planning services, 148,000 surgical procedures, and 8.6 million laboratory tests in 2025. In addition, it provided 228,000 mental health consultations, addressing a silent epidemic in a society suffering from multiple traumas due to killing, displacement, and loss.
The Syrian Future Movement places mental health at the forefront of its priorities during the transitional phase. International organizations estimate that more than 5 million Syrians suffer from moderate to severe mental health disorders, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, amidst a near-total absence of community and institutional mental health support services. The Syrian Future Movement calls for the launch of a national mental health program that integrates it into primary care and provides mobile teams in population centers and camps.
The Syrian Future Movement condemns the continued and significant funding gap that threatens the closure of vital health facilities during this transitional phase. It calls upon the United Nations and donor countries to convene a special conference for the reconstruction of the Syrian health sector, giving absolute priority to the rehabilitation of hospitals destroyed in Raqqa, Idlib, Aleppo, Eastern Ghouta, and Deir ez-Zor. The Movement also calls for the provision of essential medical equipment and medicines, and the launch of serious incentive programs to encourage the return of expatriate doctors and nurses, who represent a wasted national asset.
The Syrian Future Movement rejects any discrimination in the provision of health services based on region, political affiliation, or religion. It considers achieving health equity a fundamental right in the civil state for which it strives.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes the necessity of adopting a “One Health” approach that links human health with the environment, investing in local scientific research and national laboratories to ensure early preparedness for any health emergency, and working in parallel to raise community awareness and promote a culture of prevention.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that rebuilding the healthcare system in Syria is a true test of the Syrian people’s ability to overcome the legacy of destruction and injustice. It calls upon all Syrians to unite and support medical personnel and local efforts, and to commit to sound health practices, because the future Syria will only be built with healthy bodies and sound minds.
Together for health, support science, and long live a free and united Syria.
