Page 73 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Pharmaceutical system in Iraq

As Iraq strives to expand and modernize its domestic Domestic medicines are the most demanded and
pharmaceutical industry, it is also shifting from a trusted among the Iraqi population due to their
centralized, state-based regimen to a decentralized technical and scientific standards, as well as their proven
one, with greater involvement from the private sector medicinal efficiency compared to some imported
(Al-Mosawi, 2020; Republic of Iraq Ministry of Health, medicines (Al lami et al., 2017). The preference
2019a). Various international pharmaceutical companies for domestic products is further driven by their
are now marketing and trading their products in Iraq competitive prices and the low risk of S/F medicines,
(Al-Jumaili et al., 2013; Republic of Iraq Ministry of which are much rarer for domestically manufactured
Health, 2019a). By the end of 2020, Iraq had 23 domestic medicines compared to imported ones (Al-Hiti, 2019;
pharmaceutical manufacturers (two public and 21 private), Al Iami et al., 2017; Al-Jumaili et al., 2013; Republic
which accounted for 47.8% of the total volume in the
public sector (Ahmed et al., 2020; Al-Hiti, 2019). However, of Iraq Ministry of Health, 2019a). In response to
these manufacturers do not produce active pharmaceutical the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic pharmaceutical
ingredients, biopharmaceuticals, or WHO-prequalified producers attempted to scale up and expand their
products (Ahmed et al., 2020; Republic of Iraq Ministry portfolio, particularly in COVID-19-related medicines
of Health, 2020). The MoH oversees the licensing and and consumables (Al-Jumaili et al., 2021). However,
inspection of national manufacturers through the these efforts were deemed insufficient in reaction speed
Department of Pharmacy/DTA and the Directorate of and quantity, which meant that the country remained
Inspection (Figure 4). largely reliant on imported medicines.

Figure 4. Schematic representation of the regulatory pathways for the registration and distribution of medicines and pharmaceuticals in the public and
private sectors. In the pre-registration process (grey half circle), all international pharmaceutical company (marketing authorization holder) needs to
be registered at the Department of Registration (Directorate of Technical Affairs) before they can submit their products for approval and registration.
All pharmaceutical product needs to be approved by the NCDS or NCSHMFS. After approval, companies register their product in the Department
of Registration. Quality testing of a new product is part of the registration process. In the post-registration process (white half circles), it is different
between the public sector, which is governed by KIMADIA, and the private sector, which is governed by domestic pharmaceutical companies and the
scientific bureaus. Both imported and domestic medicines need to pass the NCDCR quality test before they can be distributed to public or private
healthcare settings.
Note: A solid arrow indicates the common distribution channels from the regulators to firms.
Abbreviations: Dept.: Department; KIMADIA: State Company for Marketing Drugs and Medical Appliance; NCDCR: National Centre for Drug Control
and Research; NCDS: National Committee for Medicine Selection; NCHMFSS: National Committee for Herbal Medicine and Food Supplementation
Selection.

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 65 https://doi.org/10.36922/GHES025110025