# Pro bono medical services available in the Middle East?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-medical-services-available-in-the-middle-east/345614>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 22, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-medical-services-available-in-the-middle-east/345614 "2006-02-22T12:24:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mahdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Mahdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahdi)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-medical-services-available-in-the-middle-east/345614/1 "2006-02-22T12:24:48Z")

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A relative of a friend of mine is in need of medical care for a rare blood disease.

She lives in Iraq, but could travel to nearby countries.

She has traveled to some neighboring countries for medical care. I could provide more information on the condition if it would help.

We have checked into Doctors Without Borders, but are no longer in Iraq.

I would appreciate any potential sources of assistance.

Thank you.

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**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-medical-services-available-in-the-middle-east/345614/2 "2006-02-27T03:42:51Z")

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> [@Mahdi](#):
>
> A relative of a friend of mine is in need of medical care for a rare blood disease.
> 
> She lives in Iraq, but could travel to nearby countries.
> 
> She has traveled to some neighboring countries for medical care. I could provide more information on the condition if it would help.
> 
> We have checked into Doctors Without Borders, but are no longer in Iraq.
> 
> I would appreciate any potential sources of assistance.
> 
> Thank you.

I’m surprised no one has answered. I’d say Israel is the best bet.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-medical-services-available-in-the-middle-east/345614/3 "2006-02-27T12:42:46Z")

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Most countries with modern technology have some form of socialized medicine, where it is possible to receive treatment without paying anything. Sometimes, this is limited to residents/citizens, but there’s great variation by country. I don’t know how the Middle East works. Israel undoubtedly has the best modern medical technology, but I don’t know whether/how someone from Iraq could go there.

Bahrain seems to have a fairly modern hospital (I’m just judging from the outside) and a socialized system, but I have no idea what the requirements are for free (or low cost) treatment, nor what their facilities are like really.

And I have no idea where to find such information, really. I know that there are organizations (SOS International is the one I used once) that provide various medical services to international travellers (for a fee); that includes information on medical access in a variety of countries. They may be able to help get information.