- Syria’s protracted conflict has driven an exodus of healthcare workers through the weaponization of healthcare, leaving a diminished pool from which medical and healthcare leaders can arise.
- Prior to the conflict, a lack of transparency, poor accountability and nepotism have influenced appointments to positions of power and influence in Syria, weakening such structures.
- Despite this, there has been some evidence of strong leadership in key organisations who are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Syria, though decades of poor investment in leadership among healthcare workers have taken their toll.
- Regional or international institutions with established medical and healthcare leadership programs must build links to support the development of context relevant programs for Syria and other conflict affected contexts.