Salih al-Hasnawi

Dr. Salih Mahdi Muttalib al-Hasnawi (Arabic: صالح مهدي مطلب الحسناوي) is an Iraqi psychiatrist, professor, public health expert, and politician. Al-Hasnawi is the current Minister of Health since 28 October 2022. He is an independent politician.^[1]

Salih al-Hasnawi
صالح الحسناوي
Minister of Health
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 October 2022
Prime Minister	Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani
Preceded by	Hani al-Aqabi
In office 2007–2010
Prime Minister	Nuri al-Maliki
Preceded by	Ali al-Shemari
Succeeded by	Majeed Hamaan Ameen
Personal details
Born	1960 (age 63–64) Karbala, Iraq
Political party	Non-partisan
Alma mater	University of Baghdad
Profession	Psychiatrist Politician

Early life and education

Al-Hasnawi was born in 1960 into a Shia muslim family in the city of Karbala. He attended the University of Baghdad and graduated in 1984 with a degree in medicine. He subsequently specialised in psychiatry.

Career

He was Minister of Health in the cabinet of Nuri al-Maliki during 2007-2010.^[2]

He worked professionally as a mental health doctor and was a consultant psychiatrist and Director of Health for Karbala before being appointed to the post of Health Minister.^[3]

In January 2008 he reported the results of the "Iraq Family Health Survey" of 9,345 households across Iraq which was carried out in 2006 and 2007 for the World Health Organization and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.^[4][5] It estimated that there had been 151,000 deaths from violence (95% uncertainty range, 104,000 to 223,000) from March 2003 through June 2006.^[6][7][8][9]

Commenting on this survey, al-Hasnawi said "I believe in these numbers," and described the survey as "a very sound survey with accurate methodology" and said that it indicated "a massive death toll since the beginning of the conflict."^[10][11]

In 2017 he was a candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO.^[12]

Minister of Health

Political offices
Preceded by Ali al-Shemari	Health Minister of Iraq 2007 - 2010	Succeeded by Majeed Hamad Ameen
Preceded by Hani al-Aqabi	Health Minister of Iraq 2022 -	Succeeded by None

Accolades and fellowships

Al Hasnawi is the first Iraqi and Arab physician to win the Presidential Medal of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Edinburgh, for his vital role in the improvement of mental health in Iraq and the Middle East. He also had the Fellowship of the faculty of public health (UK) 2011 and a temporary adviser WHO - EMRO in mental health and research for health.

References

1. SUNNI LEADERS CRITICIZE PARLIAMENT VOTE ON MINISTERS, Radio Free Europe, 2007-10-31, accessed on 2008-03-06
2. Iraq Moves to Repeal Immunity for Guards, Washington Post, 2007-10-31, accessed on 2008-03-06
3. The Military Health System Blog, Dr. Bruno Himmler, 2007-12-06, accessed on 2008-03-06
4. Alkhuzai AH, Ahmad IJ, Hweel MJ, Ismail TW, et al. (2008). "Violence-Related Mortality in Iraq from 2002 to 2006" (PDF). New England Journal of Medicine. 358 (2): 484–93. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa0707782. PMID 18184950. S2CID 3186924. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-02-26. January 31, 2008. Supplementary Appendix provided by the authors:
5. WHO country office in Iraq. Iraq Family Health Survey Archived 2008-06-11 at the Wayback Machine. World Health Organization (WHO).
6. "New study says 151,000 Iraqi dead". January 10, 2008. BBC News Online.
7. "151,000 civilians killed since Iraq invasion". By Sarah Boseley. January 10, 2008. The Guardian.
8. "W.H.O. Says Iraq Civilian Death Toll Higher Than Cited". By Lawrence K. Altman and Richard A. Oppel Jr.. January 10, 2008. New York Times.
9. "IRAQ: Civilian Deaths Massive by Any Measure" Archived 2008-12-06 at the Wayback Machine. By Haider Rizvi. January 11, 2008. Inter Press Service News Agency.
10. "New study says 151,000 Iraqi dead". BBC News. January 10, 2008.
11. "W.H.O. Says Iraq Civilian Death Toll Higher Than Cited" By Lawrence K. Altman and Richard A. Oppel Jr. January 10, 2008. The New York Times.
12. "Saleh Al-Hasnawi: candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO". UNESCO.