Preparations for new taxes | “Salvation Government” demands “medical centres” obtain work permits
The “Salvation Government” has recently issued a decision, demanding “medical centres” operating in areas under the control of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) in Idlib obtain work permits in a limited time the government has identified. The HTS-backed government has issued another decision, obligating all medical staffs to obtain professional licenses, threatening to impose sanctions on all medical centres and medics violating the new decisions.
On June 16, the “Ministry of Health” of the “Salvation Government” imposed a decision asking all medical centres, including beauty, physical therapy and fertility centres to turn to the “Ministry of Health” between July 1 to August 1, in order to obtain work permits. The ministry also threatened to close all unlicensed centres permanently after this time limit.
The other decision demanded all individuals in the medical sector obtain professional licenses in a time limit of three months starting from the date when the decision was issued. The ministry also threatened to impose “legal penalties” on every medic who would not obtain this license.
The new decisions have ignited broad criticism in HTS-controlled areas, where many activists and residents see that the decisions are just a new attempt by the “Salvation Government” to collect money from these centres and come as a part of preparations to impose taxes on them by “Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham, which now dominates all resources in that region and practices authoritarianism to collect the largest possible sums of money, which may enable the group to give up funds sent from other countries and depend only local resources.
Commenting on these decisions, an activist known by his initials as M. A. has told SOHR, “it is common knowledge now that when the ‘Salvation Government’ asks for licenses of specific shops, schools, medical centres and offices, then this means that it prepares for imposing new taxes on them under the pretext of facilitating their work in HTS-held areas and providing protection for them. The government had previously asked for licenses to be obtained by currency exchange shops, private schools, jewellery stores, internet cafés and other shops, before it imposed monthly taxes on them and clamped down on their activities. Such practices aim only at collecting money in order to secure a resource for funding the ‘Salvation Government’ and ‘Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham.’ In the case that taxes are imposed on medical centres, then this will be a serious violation committed by the ‘Salvation Government’ against the centres which serve thousands of civilians in Idlib city and countryside, after the suspension of work in many medical facilities, such as centres, clinics and hospitals, because of the acute shortage of support. Such centres supposed not to be dealt with as commercial projects.”
The activist adds “the ‘Salvation Government” has to provide support to medical centres, and not to ask them to obtain licenses to impose taxes on them and affect their capacity negatively. It seems that HTS is not content with the money it gets from its projects and investments, so it decided to turn to collecting money from medical centres as well. It is important to license medical centres, so that they can provide high-quality services. However, if the “Salvation Government” imposes taxes on these centres like it has done with other centres and shops, then these taxes will badly impact their work and lead to suspending their work in a short period of time.”
On the other hand, some people see that the implementation of such decisions is very important, as the region needs an administrative body organising the work of all institutions, including the medical centres. They also see that these decisions are right and that they aim at putting an end to the state of chaos and disorder, especially since many unprofessional individuals and private medical centres, which offer their services at various costs, have engaged in medical sector in north-west Syria region.
Speaking to SOHR, a young man known by his initials as A. A. and works as an anaesthetic technician in a hospital in Idlib city says, “there are many positive sides of licensing medical centres, which will mainly affect civilians. The most major advantage is manifested in unifying the cost of treatment in all centres. Moreover, licensing medical centres gives power to the ‘Ministry of Health’ to supervise medical staffs and check the authenticity of their university certifications and degrees. According to the recently-issued decisions, the ‘Ministry of Health’ of the ‘Salvation Government’ has the authority to get databases of all medical centres and staff working there.”
The man has ruled out that the decision aims at imposing taxes on these centres, as all hospitals and medical centres operating in HTS-controlled areas, both affiliated to the “Salvation Government” or the private ones, are under the supervision of the “Salvation Government.” However, no taxes are imposed on them. Furthermore, the “Salvation Government” does not interfere in the internal policy and administration of the private hospitals and centres and those which are supported by humanitarian organisations, according to the man.
The man has also pointed out that the private medical centres, such as beauty and fertility centres, offer their services to civilians for very high costs. “A monitoring body is needed to control the soaring prices in the region. Imposition of taxes is totally rejected as medical sector must be kept away from the list of other sectors which the ‘Salvation Government’ depends on for financial support,” added the anaesthetic technician.
In the past three years, the “Salvation Government” issued many decisions obligating most institutions operating in HTS-held areas to obtain licenses. In this period of time, the “Salvation Government” affiliated directorates licensed several institutions, which are as follows:
- The “General Directorate of Sports and Youth” licensed sport institutions, stadiums and sports halls.
- The “Monetary Agency” licensed currency exchange shops.
- The “Ministry of Education” licensed private schools.
- The “Ministry of Health” licensed private hospitals and pharmacies.
Meanwhile, local activists and civilians in Idlib city and countryside have accused the “Salvation Government” of “imposing procedures on many institutions, under the pretext of licensing them, in order to collect money, bring these institutions under its supervision and impose taxes.” Accordingly, the “Salvation Government” can strengthen its influence in the region through dominating all resources.
It is worth noting that the medical sector in north Syria has deteriorated greatly because of the lack of international support and almost-completely depleted sources of funds. This has led to the closure of many medical institutions, especially in HTS-held areas in Idlib city and countryside in north-west Syria region. Moreover, many hospitals and medical centres, which are currently in service, are struggling with acute shortage of essential equipment, decreasing capacity and deteriorating quality of services provided to civilians.