Syria pilots family health model to rebuild healthcare
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Syria’s Health Ministry will begin testing a new family health model at 40 health centers across the country within weeks.
Health Minister Musab al-Ali announced the initiative as part of the ministry’s plan to rebuild and modernize Syria’s primary healthcare system, outlining a strategic plan spanning 2026 to 2028. The model aims to clarify the responsibilities of family health teams, the services they provide, and how patients move between different levels of care.
The ministry intends to evaluate the pilot program before expanding it nationwide, and will reorganize health services to better connect primary care centers with hospitals. A key component of the new system will be a digital transformation, including a unified electronic health record to help healthcare providers and officials understand population needs and track outcomes. Mohammad Salem, director of the Primary Healthcare Directorate, explained that the approach will link healthcare more closely to local communities.
Family physicians will follow patients throughout their lives, focusing on prevention, early detection, treatment, and ongoing care. The World Health Organization will offer technical support, drawing on successful models from other countries in the region. Family medicine has existed in Syria since 1985, and the country accredited the specialty with the Arab Board of Health Specializations in 1998.
