Page 69 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Pharmaceutical system in Iraq

medicines, and food supplements (Al-Jumaili et al., 2013; Scientific bureaus are private enterprises registered with
Al-Lela et al., 2012). The DTA is responsible for licensing the SIP that is responsible for the promotion and trading of
establishments, issuing marketing authorizations, pharmaceuticals across the nation. They often serve as local
conducting regulatory inspections, performing laboratory representatives for foreign pharmaceutical companies.
testing (quality control and assurance), overseeing batch These bureaus procure pharmaceutical products directly
releases, and managing pharmacovigilance. It comprises from domestic and international manufacturers and sell
several technical committees, departments, and centers, them to public entities (e.g., KIMADIA, Directorates of
operated by specialist physicians and pharmacists Health, and public hospitals), wholesale pharmaceutical
(Figure 1) (Al-Jumaili et al., 2013; Al-Lela et al., 2012; suppliers, and, in some cases, through “irregular” pathways,
Republic of Iraq Ministry of Health, 2020). to community pharmacies (Figure 2) (Al-Jumaili et al.,
3.2. Structure of the private sector 2013; United States of America Department of Commerce,
2018). While it is not mandatory for a foreign company
The private pharmaceutical sector differs from the public to have a local agent or representative to participate in
sector in terms of structure, role, size, and procurement KIMADIA tenders, companies represented by a scientific
model (Figure 2) (Al Hilfi et al., 2013; Al Hasnawi et al., bureau are generally favored by KIMADIA (Republic of
2009). It comprises three main entities (scientific bureaus, Iraq Ministry of Health, n.d.a; United States of America
wholesale pharmaceutical suppliers, and community Department of Commerce, 2018). The customer portfolio
pharmacies), which differ in role and size and are of scientific bureaus may include both public and private
responsible for the distribution of medicines and medical sector clients (Figure 2) (Republic of Iraq Ministry of
appliances in the private market (Al-Jumaili et al., 2013; Health, 2020).
Management Partners, 2013; Rasheed & Abbas, 2017).
The Syndicate of Iraqi Pharmacists (SIP) is authorized Wholesale pharmaceutical suppliers are private
to establish the rules and regulations for licensure and enterprises that procure medicines mainly from scientific
inspection of private distributors (Al-Jumaili et al., 2013; bureaus or domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers and
Syndicate of Iraqi Pharmacists, 2023), although the sell directly to private dispensaries, such as community
MoH, through the Inspection Department/DTA, retains pharmacies and private healthcare facilities (Al-Jumaili
oversight and monitoring responsibilities for the private et al., 2013; Management Partners, 2013). In certain
sector (Figure 3). circumstances, they may also supply public hospitals. All

Figure 3. Schematic representation of licensing and inspection authorities overseeing pharmaceutical entities in the public and private sectors
Abbreviations: DTA: Directorate of Technical Affairs; MoH: Ministry of Health; SIP: Syndicate of Iraqi Pharmacists.

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 61 https://doi.org/10.36922/GHES025110025