Jordan, a developing nation, continues to face challenges within its health care system. Like much of the world, the country was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus remains one of the leading causes of death in Jordan. Consequently, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the nation experienced a decline in life expectancy, dropping from 79.8 years in 2019 to 75.6 years by 2021.

Beyond the direct health toll of COVID-19, which continues to affect the population, Jordan experienced a significant economic downturn during the pandemic. While tourism is not the country’s primary source of revenue, widespread closures of restaurants and local businesses highlighted the pandemic’s broader economic impact. Reduced consumer activity and a sharp decline in domestic and international visitors contributed to revenue losses across multiple sectors.

As a result, poverty levels in Jordan rose during and after the pandemic. According to the World Bank, 15.7% of the population now lives at or below the national poverty line. In comparison, the poverty rate stood at 14.4% in 2010, reflecting a marginal but notable increase over the past decade.

Medical Tourism in Jordan

Beyond its reputation for agriculture and natural beauty, Jordan is also widely recognized for its health care system. It ranks first in the Middle East for health services due to its well-regarded Western‑educated physicians and advanced medical facilities.

Medical tourism is a significant pillar of Jordan’s economy, generating more than $1 billion in revenue annually. It accounts for approximately 4% of the nation’s GDP. The sector has also created jobs for thousands of Jordanians, especially medical professionals.

Medical Aid Centers in Jordan

Medical aid centers in Jordan have increased recently, with the government upgrading six regional medical warehouses in Irbid, Jordan. According to Firas Hawari, the Health Minister of Jordan, “the new warehouses and vaccination center are part of broader efforts to modernize Jordan’s health care infrastructure, ensuring the efficient and equitable distribution of medicines and vaccines.”

The aim of upgrading Jordan’s medical warehouses is to improve access to efficient, high-quality health care services for medical professionals and the public. These upgrades focus on expanding storage capacity for essential supplies, such as vaccines, medications and medical equipment, thereby enabling streamlined distribution across health care facilities in the country.

Following the successful upgrade of the medical warehouse in Irbid, Jordan extended similar improvements to four additional facilities in Ma’an. Jordan implemented the upgrades through a partnership between the Jordanian Ministry of Health, the European Union (EU) and the WHO, further reinforcing the country’s robust health care system.

Jordan’s broader objective is to achieve universal health care coverage for its citizens and everyone else residing within its borders. To support this goal, the government allocated an estimated 850,000 Jordanian dinars (approximately $1.2 million) for the recent upgrade of its medical warehouses. These infrastructure improvements were completed by the end of March 2025, a key step in strengthening the country’s health care delivery system.

Looking Ahead

The expansion of warehouse upgrades across the country is expected to enhance health care delivery significantly. By increasing storage and distribution capacity, Jordan aims to ensure more affordable and accessible health care services. Furthermore, the upgrades are particularly for vulnerable populations, including refugees and citizens who depend on regular access to medication.

– Erin Lee

Erin is based in Queens, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr