Iraq’s Health Minister Dr. Saleh Mahdi Al-Hasnawi met with Egyptian officials in Cairo to boost cooperation in pharmaceuticals and healthcare. These talks, held on November 17, 2025, aim to improve drug regulation, manufacturing, and medical services between the two nations.
This partnership comes at a key time as Iraq rebuilds its healthcare system after years of conflict, while Egypt shares its strong pharma expertise. The meetings highlight a shared goal to enhance drug security and patient care across the region.
Key Meetings in Cairo
Dr. Al-Hasnawi visited the Egyptian Drug Authority and discussed plans with its chairman, Dr. Ali Al-Ghamrawi. They focused on joint efforts in medicine registration and quality checks.
The talks also covered training programs for pharma experts. Both sides agreed to hold workshops to build skills and align standards.
Later, Dr. Al-Hasnawi joined Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Dr. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar at a global health conference. They explored sending Egyptian medical teams to Iraq and partnering on academic exchanges.
This builds on past agreements, showing a steady push for stronger ties.
Main Areas of Cooperation
The partnership targets pharmaceutical manufacturing and regulation. Iraq seeks Egypt’s help to produce more drugs locally, reducing imports and cutting costs.
Healthcare development is another focus, including better training for doctors and nurses. Joint programs could improve services in rural areas of both countries.
- Drug quality control: Sharing best practices to ensure safe medicines.
- Professional training: Workshops and exchanges for health workers.
- Industry growth: Plans to build new pharma factories with shared tech.
These steps address Iraq’s need for reliable drug supplies amid ongoing reforms.
Experts say this could lead to more affordable medicines and faster approvals for new treatments.
Impact on Regional Health
This cooperation fits into Iraq’s wider healthcare push. Recent reports show Iraq investing over $500 million in new pharma cities, partnering with global firms.
Egypt, a leader in African pharma, exports billions in drugs each year. Its experience could help Iraq meet growing demands from a population of over 40 million.
A table below outlines recent bilateral health efforts:
| Year | Initiative | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Training exchange | 200 Iraqi doctors trained in Egypt |
| 2025 | Pharma regulation talks | New standards for drug imports |
| 2025 | Medical team deployment | Egyptian specialists aid Iraqi hospitals |
Such moves could stabilize health services in conflict-hit areas.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Both nations face hurdles like regulatory differences and supply chain issues. Iraq’s pharma sector still recovers from war damage, with shortages in key medicines.
Yet, opportunities abound. Joint ventures might attract investments from Europe and Asia, boosting jobs and tech transfers.
Logical next steps include signing new deals at upcoming Arab health forums. This could expand to include digital health tools and vaccine production.
Looking to the Future
As Iraq and Egypt move forward, this partnership promises better healthcare for millions. It shows how regional ties can solve shared problems in medicine and public health.
Experts predict more collaborations in 2026, possibly including research on common diseases like diabetes.
What do you think about this growing alliance? Share your thoughts in the comments and spread the word to keep the conversation going.
