Koya’s new government-run Kidney Dialysis Center has already changed hundreds of lives in the region. Since opening 18 months ago, the center performed 4,000 dialysis sessions free of charge. Patients no longer travel long distances to Sulaimani, Erbil, or Kirkuk for treatment.
Salah Fattah, a patient for sixteen years, once paid 300,000 dinars per session at private hospitals. Now, he receives care three times a week without any fees. “I feel relieved and safe here,” he said, praising the clean and modern facility.
The center also provides critical psychological support. Newroz Majid, a recent graduate, described how the staff helped her cope with kidney failure. “They treated me with care and attention, not just medical treatment,” she said.
Director Abdullah Mahmood explained that the facility aims to reduce patient hardship and improve local healthcare access. The staff works daily to ensure high-quality care and a supportive environment.
Moreover, the Koya Dialysis Center reflects the KRG’s broader healthcare reforms under Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. The ninth cabinet focuses on building new hospitals, renovating clinics, introducing advanced technology, and digitizing health services.
The reforms extend across the region. In Erbil, a similar kidney dialysis center treats dozens of patients free of charge every day. In Shiladze, a new 100-bed hospital opened, while specialized centers for thalassemia and kidney dialysis now serve rural communities.
The government also supports advanced treatments abroad for complex cases, fully funded, and attracts top medical experts back to Kurdistan. Dr. Bzhar Najjar, a renowned neurologist, returned from Sweden to offer cutting-edge Parkinson’s treatments.
The health digitization campaign connects hospitals to a central database, improving efficiency, tracking supplies, and creating lifelong digital patient records. Additionally, hospitals like Hiwa in Sulaimani incorporate art therapy to support patients emotionally during treatment.
For Fattah and Majid, Koya’s dialysis center offers more than medical care. It reduces financial burdens, provides psychological support, and ends exhausting travel for treatment. The center embodies the KRG’s commitment to high-quality, accessible, and compassionate healthcare.