Operationalising the Medical Research and Care Centre (MRCC) of the University of Mosul

The MRCC has been built with a view to becoming a cutting-edge care and research centre in Nineveh Governorate and nationwide. The facility was delivered shortly before Daesh entered Mosul in 2014, which suspended any possibility of development and operation. Following the liberation of the city in 2017, the University of Mosul resumed the project to open the centre, with even more urgent needs for the population of Nineveh.

The Project to operationalise the Medical Research and Care Centre (MRCC) of the University of Mosul involves the joint efforts of AFD and Expertise France, through the mobilization of the 10-million-euro in-kind contribution, and of the Iraqi partners, including the University of Mosul and the Department of Health of Ninawa Governorate for the proper operation of the Centre.

This joint construction and management of the centre enables a sustainable operation of the MRCC under State control, which can ensure its viability.

In order to improve the health conditions of the population, the project has four specific objectives:

1. Ensuring the continuity of oncology healthcare services at MRCC's: thanks to rehabilitation activities and the timely provision of essential medical equipment required for patient care and recovery, the population will be able to benefit from rapid diagnostic and external consultations that are currently little or not available in Mosul. Special attention will be paid to the respect of international standards. This objective includes the development of radiotherapy activities, medical imaging, cardiology, neurophysiology, endoscopy, urology, and medium-term radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
2. Enhancing the quality of Laboratory's medical analyses by optimizing the performance and maintenance of medical devices: the project team will ensure the medical laboratory is functional and has been equipped and the laboratory staff receive appropriate training on the laboratory's Standard Operating Procedures and equipment.
3. Preventing incidents related to biological, chemical, and physical risks by implementing standardized waste management practices: thanks to the project, training sessions will be provided to non-medical and medical staff in charge of waste management.
4. Strengthening the quality of care provided by the MRCC: the project contributes to improve research, skills and capabilities of healthcare professionals and the organisation of services according to international standards. To do so, the project supports the management of the Centre and the reduction of gender inequalities (for both practitioners and patients) and develops technical and scientific cooperation with French medical institutions.

The strategy for the project’s activities is based on two main components: the immediate commissioning of the Centre and support for its management and future development.

These two components include renovating the infrastructure with the repair and renewal of equipment, establishing procedures in line with international standards, as well as setting up the teams and a management and training plan. The objective is to develop the project for a centre of scientific and technical excellence in partnership with French institutions.

The activities also include helping to ensure that vulnerable people have priority access and reduce gender inequalities, by conducting a dedicated study to identify these inequalities and proposing ways of mitigating them as far as possible in the centre’s activities in the medium and long term.

This strategy aims to ensure that there is a rapid but phased launch of the MRCC’s operations, while keeping the risks for patients, staff and the environment under control.