Baghdad – On Sunday, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani chaired a high-level meeting to evaluate the current status of Iraq’s pharmaceutical industry. The session brought together the Minister of Health, several advisors, and representatives from both public and private sectors. A delegate from the League of Medicine Producers also participated.
The meeting focused on progress made in local pharmaceutical production. Special attention was given to expanding Iraq’s capacity to manufacture cancer treatment drugs. This marks a major step toward reducing dependency on imported medicine.
Prime Minister Al-Sudani emphasized the importance of strong public-private collaboration. He encouraged private pharmaceutical companies to remain in close communication with government agencies. Together, they aim to remove barriers that limit production and growth.
In addition, attendees reviewed the Ministry of Health’s current standards for registering drugs. These include both initial and final stages of approval. The Prime Minister urged strict adherence to quality benchmarks that align with both Iraqi and global standards.
Moreover, the discussion addressed challenges slowing down several pharmaceutical initiatives. These challenges include delays in implementation, pricing issues, and difficulties in managing competition for similar drugs. Al-Sudani stressed the need for timely and realistic solutions.
He also called for the review of existing laws and regulations. Updating them would ensure they better support Iraq’s pharmaceutical industry. He asked lawmakers to align policies with the industry’s current needs.
The meeting covered other important topics as well. Officials talked about enforcing contract terms, regulating pricing policies, and accelerating production timelines. They also explored how to strengthen protection for locally manufactured medicines.
Another key subject was insurance coverage for production facilities in Iraq. Officials agreed that financial security will encourage more investment in local factories.
Finally, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s long-term commitment. He stated that boosting Iraq’s pharmaceutical industry remains a national priority. With coordinated efforts, Iraq aims to create a self-sufficient pharmaceutical sector that meets the country’s health needs.
