Aster DM Healthcare, an integrated healthcare service provider in the GCC and India, signed a Contract with Faruk Medical City, an Iraqi healthcare service provider, to collaborate on capability development and academic and professional training programs for clinical staff and healthcare professionals in Iraq, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Faruk Medical City is a part of Faruk Investment Group, an investment group in Iraq. Through this partnership, doctors from Aster DM Healthcare will visit Faruk Medical City’s facilities to consult and provide surgical services which are not locally available and for which patients have to travel overseas, the statement said.

Aster DM Healthcare and Faruk Medical City will jointly provide training and academic support to the medical and paramedical staff of Faruk Medical City hospital. The move aims to provide advanced academic training and capability development to the hospital.

Aster will also play an advisory role in guiding Faruk Medical City to apply for international accreditation. Faruk Investment Group and Aster DM Healthcare have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore potential collaboration opportunities to expand Aster Pharmacy’s services to Iraq, including the distribution and retail of pharmaceutical and wellness products.

 Commenting on the collaboration, Dr Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare, said, “We are pleased to partner with FMC Kurdistan to support the clinical operations and academic programs at FMC Hospitals, Sulaimaniya. With decades of experience in providing tertiary and quaternary patient care, Aster is well placed to provide comprehensive training to health care professionals in Iraq. Our expert doctors shall also visit FMC regularly to participate in patient care. This partnership reaffirms Aster’s commitment to support patients and the medical fraternity across geographies.”