With Obama pulling troops out of Iraq and declaring the war officially over, the country appears to be on the path towards self determination and possible democracy. But even so, Iraq will still have many challenges to overcome in its future. Many of these challenges come from the goal of a healthy Iraqi citizenry.

In America, people often buy pet insurance to help protect against their pet falling ill and needing expensive procedures. In Iraq, civilians are struggling for health care themselves, let alone insuring livestock or pets.

In the 1970s Iraq instituted a nationalized health care system. In the Iraqi election March 2010, improving health care was one of the biggest concerns of the people. Some claim that the problem with Iraq’s current health care system is the crumbling Iraqi infrastructure, others point to a country not recovered from a war.

Big public hospitals are the only ones equipped with the technology and supplies to diagnose complicated illnesses. Yet, these hospitals are often understaffed with both doctors and nurses. Upon occasion, the doctors stay away from hospitals to avoid being kidnapped or killed; an estimated half of Iraq’s doctors have left the country. Many were forced to flee due to sect or wealth. Meanwhile, taking a walk in the streets of Baghdad could prove hazardous to a citizen’s health. As the violence continues, the doctors are not returning.

However, public hospitals are not the only option. Private health care in Iraq is available but extremely expensive. Often times, the cost to see a specialist is prohibitive. The result is that Iraqi citizens are not receiving the health care they desperately need. In a country where bombs are flying and violence is prevalent, people are dying from a lack of a health care as a basic service. This is one challenge the Iraqi government will have to tackle in order to truly help its people.