-
Crisis Escalates: Sweida Hospital Fights for Survival
In recent days, patients and medical staff at the National Hospital in Swaida have been facing challenging circumstances, as meal provisions have been reduced from three to just one per day due to the suspension of donations that previously helped supply food. The hospital has long relied on support from local residents, the community, and volunteer teams to meet basic needs. However, just recently, it has become unable to provide even the simplest services to patients amidst the absence of official allocations covering operational expenses.
Since the fall of the Syrian regime at the end of last year, the healthcare directorate in Swaida has been experiencing near-total financial paralysis, as it has not been allocated a fixed budget. The only financial aid received was a limited grant at the beginning of the year, which was insufficient to cover even a small part of the healthcare needs in the governorate, according to sources in the health sector of Swaida 24.
Sources confirmed that this financial crisis did not originate in recent months but began with the collapse of Assad's regime. Previously, the Ministry of Health provided an annual budget to the directorate, but following the establishment of the interim government, no budget was allocated. Instead, only one grant was received at the start of the year. In an effort to prevent the cessation of services, community initiatives in the city of Shabha launched appeals to support the local hospital, aiming to secure laboratory supplies and digital X-ray equipment to ensure the continuity of radiology and laboratory departments.
Sources in the healthcare sector indicate that the health system is under enormous pressure due to the increasing number of patients and declining capabilities, combined with the lack of regular financial support. This situation has forced the National Hospital to rely solely on donations, facing severe difficulties in providing basic services. Since July, the healthcare sector has experienced significant deterioration caused by damages to the health system and the blockade imposed on Swaida, making reliance on community support, remitted funds, and international humanitarian organizations essential for the continuation of services.
