Iraq to support pharmaceutical industry localization
A pharmaceutical production line in Samarra Pharmaceutical Factory. Photo: Samarra Pharmaceutical Factory
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, confirmed that the pharmaceutical market in Iraq spends about three billion USD annually to import medicines, most of which are not subject to examination, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.
During his meeting with members from the Iraqi League for Medicine Producers (ILMP), Al-Sudani indicated that only 10 percent of the medicines are produced in Iraq, stressing the need to localize and develop the pharmaceutical industry in the country to comply with the government’s serious approach to economic reform, INA mentioned.
Al-Sudani pointed out that the pharmaceutical industry is one of the important sectors that contribute to the economy, as well as to the provision of job opportunities.
The Iraqi Prime Minister emphasized that the private sector in Iraq has the ability to produce more than 250 additional types of medicine, in cooperation with international companies, within a period ranging from six months to a year.
Al-Sudani mentioned that Samarra Pharmaceutical Factory is one of the leading factories in the pharmaceutical industry.
Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Hamoudi Al-Lami, confirmed that decisions were made during the meeting to support the localization of pharmaceutical industry, explaining that these decisions included the allocation of financial payments and fee exemptions, according to INA.
“During this meeting, recommendations were put forward to support the national pharmaceutical industry in Iraq,” Al-Lami elaborated.
The Iraqi Minister of Health, Saleh Al-Hasnawi, confirmed that an agreement has been reached during Al-Sudani’s meeting with the ILMP to facilitate the procedures for establishing and relocating pharmaceutical factories in Iraq.