Damascus, (SANA)- President Bashar al-Assad issued the Law No. 17 for the year 2008 on setting up public health, scientific and training commissions linked to the Minister of Health.

The Law says the Commissions are body corporate in nature, and enjoy administrative and financial independence.

They aim at providing medical care, including diagnoses, treatment and surgery and training on all levels as well as doing relevant medical and health researches.

It also states that the health services offered by these Commissions are paid according to tariffs outlined by them provided they do not exceed the tariffs set by the Ministry of Health.  The Commissions can decide, upon a decision by the Minister of health, the rate of free health services offered and those who can benefit from them. The law will be put into effect after six months.

Ahmad Fathi ZAHRA