38 out of 124 public hospitals have been damaged as a result of the ongoing crisisSince the beginning of the unrest in the Syrian Arab Republic, the World Health Organization has been working with the Ministry of Health, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and partners to address the acute and chronic health needs of Syrian populations affected by the crisis. This includes the provision of ambulances, the refurbishing and equipping of four mobile health clinics, and medicines and medical supplies for treating approximately 700 000 people.

As the crisis continues into its 18th month, however, severe shortages in medicines and pharmaceutical products are being reported inside the country.

More than 90% of medicines in the Syrian Arab Republic were locally produced before the unrest began in February 2011. Since then, economic sanctions and an increase in operational costs have negatively affected the production of medicines and pharmaceutical products.