Dr. Motasem Hamdan Delivers First CPP Distinguished Visiting Professor Lecture

Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Public Policy (CPP) hosted Dr. Motasem Hamdan, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Value, CPP, for a special lecture detailing the current challenges facing Palestine’s healthcare systems and resulting impact on Palestinians’ health.

Dr. Hamdan provided an overview of the status of public health in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, overall accessibility to healthcare in Palestine and the key contextual challenges affecting its governance. His lecture then examined the devastating impact of the conflict on Gaza and the West Bank, including the destruction of healthcare infrastructure, attacks on medical teams, and public health and environmental risks. 

He also addressed violations of international laws and regulations concerning healthcare in conflict zones before concluding his talk by assessing the healthcare system’s needs, highlighting priorities for immediate response and long-term rebuilding, and what national and international actors need to do to provide much-needed support.

This lecture marked the first of a series of talks to be delivered by Dr. Hamdan as CPP Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Value. He will continue to deliver compelling talks informed by his experience in healthcare policymaking and education.

Previous holders of Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Value are Dr. Wolfgang Drechsler (2022), Dr. Mutlaq Al-Qahtani (2023), Dr. Erin McCandless (Spring 2024), and Dr. Mark Evans (Fall 2024). Individuals selected for this prestigious position work to address policy questions of local and global relevance and exchange research insights with local researchers from HBKU and the wider community.