Iraq’s Oil Money Not Buying Health Care
When Millions From Oil Flow Out Of Iraq Every Day, Why Are So Many Citizens Suffering?
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Play CBS Video Video Iraqi Hospitals Lack Resources Iraqi officials gain billions of dollars every year from oil production; but many hospitals in this unstable region lack even the most basic medical supplies. Elizabeth Palmer reports from Baghdad.
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Iraq's hospitals lack even basic supplies. (CBS)
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Some Iraqi hospitals like the Kahdimiyah Hospital lack even basic supplies, such as IV fluids, antibiotics and anaesthetic. This man is having his foot sewn up without any anaesthetic. (CBS)
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Photo Essay Week In Iraq Photos A daily diary with scenes of the latest attacks and snapshots from the effort to rebuild a nation.
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Interactive Battle For Iraq The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.
But you wouldn’t know it looking at the dingy emergency room of the Kahdimiyah Hospital.
U.S. Army doctors say it’s one of the best in the city - yet it lacks the most basic supplies.
“I am talking about IV fluids - I’m talking about strong antibiotics,” one doctor said in English.
Anaesthetic is also lacking. One man had his foot stitched up with nothing to kill the pain but his son’s embrace.
“How do you reconcile the fact that we know that Iraq has many billions of dollars of oil money waiting to be spent?” Palmer asked.
“I don't know how to answer that,” the doctor said. “I don't know.”
Bassim Sharif does. He’s a Member of Parliament on the Health Oversight Committee.
“There is a corruption in Iraq and the corruption is widespread,” he said.
But corruption is only part of the problem. Political in-fighting also is squeezing Iraq’s health budget -- so much that only $68 was available per person.
Compare that to, for example, $650 per person in Mexico and $2,547 in the United States.
“We used up our whole drugs budget in the first six months of this year,” Bassim said.
In Khadimiyah Hospital, a young girl is rushed in - wounded in a mortar attack.
But security has improved so much that war trauma patients like this are now the exception.
But the beds are still full, and medical staff who thought better security would let them deliver better care are bitter.Blog: How lacking Baghdad hospital care touched a CBS News producer
“I am so hurt that my patients are suffering and can't do anything for them for lack of simple things that are available in every country in the world,” one doctor said.
Simple, critical things doctors know Iraq’s oil money could so easily buy.
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- Where were all these people when he got "elected" a second time? Where was all this common sense when you had an opportunity to PREVENT this *** from happening. I am Canadian and have been steadily loosing faith in my southern neighbors since I learned to read. For a country which goes on and on about freedom, most Canadians are shocked at how little freedom you guys actually seem to have. I wish things werent like this, America should be setting an example for the rest of the world. Its really a shame.
Posted by MrKuren
When you saw the numbers come up that Kerry "lost" by a few thousand votes. The intelligent people were the ones who put him within that close distance. Unfortunately, I guess their are more morons in this country then educated voters. The Bush Regime also have one HELL of a propaganda machine going on not only here in the U.S. but around the world.
Personally, my wife and I were in Britain (looking to flee the ignorance) during the 2004 election. We voted with an absentee ballet just to make sure there were two more votes against this crime ring. Then we flew over and got to hear how stupid and hypocritical the rest of the world REALLy thinks America is. - Reply to this comment
- During a recent hearing, Senator Leahy asked an Iraq general why the maliki government did not provide decent conditions for the Iraq people out of the billions of oil money. The blunt reply was, "why should we, as long as you are willing to do it". That was the final nail. Let''s get out regardless of what someone else thinks.
- Reply to this comment
- Why is it that there are intelligent people in the States (millions of them) who disagree with the current administration, and complain non-stop about W''s war machine. Where were all these people when he got "elected" a second time? Where was all this common sense when you had an opportunity to PREVENT this *** from happening. I am Canadian and have been steadily loosing faith in my southern neighbors since I learned to read. For a country which goes on and on about freedom, most Canadians are shocked at how little freedom you guys actually seem to have. I wish things werent like this, America should be setting an example for the rest of the world. Its really a shame.
- Reply to this comment
- "America has not been attacked since we became proactive in the war on terror."
Posted by cbville70 at 11:56 PM : Jul 08, 2008
We were also not attacked from 1994-2001. So you would agree, then, that Bill Clinton a great job as well? Last time I checked 9-11 happened on GWB''s watch. - Reply to this comment
- America has not been attacked since we became proactive in the war on terror.
Posted by cbville70 at 11:56 PM : Jul 08, 2008
No, we''ve just had our economy crippled. Were you living in a cave when the terrorists said they would not attack us physically, but instead attack us where it matters most - by waging war on our economy? I''d say, with almost a trillion dollars being flushed down the toilet in Iraq by our president, and our country in the depths of recession, they''re winning that one, sport. - Reply to this comment
- "Otherwise (as you have all demonstrated with your nonstop a$$inine posts) people will know you lack intelligence."
Posted by cbville70
Yes, because YOUR post with name-calling was sooooo profound. Thanks for the brilliant insights, Professor. - Reply to this comment
- Also do not award any contracts to HALLIBURTON or any company that is in bed with the current administration.
- Reply to this comment
- I saw this last night on CBS and its Pathetic. One WEEKS oil supply and IRAQ could have 7 state of the art hosipitals spread across the entire country. 300 million dollars per hosipital sounds like a great investment for the future. Somebody has to sell these New Hosipitals new X-ray, Cat-Scan and other high dollar stuff. What a great source of revenue for some US companys.
Dont let the Bush Administration be involved in any aspect of this because they will over charge and mis-manage the entire process. The Bush Administration are PROs at doing this. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by navpro at 08:35 AM : Jul 09, 2008, "So what is Iraqs oil paying for????"
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The Bush, Cheney, Scooter, Rove retirement plan. These guys really planned ahead because they knew they would be out of office some day. - Reply to this comment
demslie2u
Do you have any specific problems with the information presented in this story? If so, what? Do you dispute the facts? Which ones?- Reply to this comment
- The US govt has $2,500 for me for healthcare? Where is it?
Posted by OneWorldUSA
It was probably lost in the Medicare Scam submitted by dead doctors..... - Reply to this comment
- The US govt has $2,500 for me for healthcare? Where is it?
Posted by OneWorldUSA
John McCain is going to give it to you as a tax credit.....right after he gets your employer to drop your coverage. - Reply to this comment
- So what is Iraqs oil paying for????
- Reply to this comment
- Democrats Hate FOX News because millions of American have chosen %u201CFair and Balanced.%u201D
Posted by demslie2u at 07:59 AM
LOLOLOLOL!!! - Reply to this comment
- "the IRAQ government said no hard timetable for troop to leave .....Posted by demslie2u at 07:59 AM
Um, read the story next time. "The White House said Monday it did not believe al-Maliki was proposing a rigid timeline for U.S. troop withdrawals" not the Iraq government. - Reply to this comment
- well american money isnt buying health care at home either!
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- Iraq''s oil money is also not funding the cost of its citizen''s ''freedom'', either. Bush said Iraqui oil would pay for its independence, so, where is it? Who''s keeping the books on this one? Oh, I know, I heard a few guys from Enron were looking for new jobs a few years back.
- Reply to this comment
- interesting to see how agitated the conservative crowd gets when light is shined on their dimwitted notions of war and glory and "fighting terror." The truth is painful sometimes...
Posted by andor3 at 03:57 AM : Jul 09, 2008
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Then they cry, "boo hoo hoo! It wasn''t our fault!" Except they were all about claiming the credit when things were looking rosy for them. What a hoot. - Reply to this comment
- DISGUSTING! You are doing our troops a DIS-SERVICE LIB-MEDIA!!!
YOU SHOULD BE FOREVER ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!
Posted by globalcool08 at 11:38 PM : Jul 08, 2008
Amen brother. This site is overrun by libs. Their like cockroaches. I don''''t even bother trying to argue with them. I just kind of blast them a little bit to kind of "thin out the herd".
I really hope they are kids posting for fun and not adults.
Posted by cbville70 at 11:51 PM : Jul 08, 2008
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Boo hoo hoo. The RINOs screeched and shouted down everybody who questioned their motive for 6 years and when it get thrown back into their faces they cry like sissies. Too bad. - Reply to this comment
- interesting to see how agitated the conservative crowd gets when light is shined on their dimwitted notions of war and glory and "fighting terror." The truth is painful sometimes...
- Reply to this comment
Blog: How lacking Baghdad hospital care touched a CBS News producer
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