The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Health has warned social media pages that advertise unlicensed or smuggled medicines and promised strict legal action against them. At the same time, officials urged citizens not to buy any medical products that lack official approval or safety certification.
In this context, Health Minister Dr. Saman Barzani said that several Facebook, Instagram, TikTok pages, and other online platforms actively promote medicines that the Ministry of Health has not approved. Moreover, he explained that smugglers bring many of these products into the Kurdistan Region through illegal routes, which bypass safety and quality controls.
Furthermore, Barzani stressed that the ministry will prosecute any page or individual involved in advertising or distributing these medicines. In addition, he noted that authorities will impose heavy penalties once investigators identify the sources behind these illegal products. As a result, he stated clearly that the government will not tolerate the promotion of unregulated medical items.
Similarly, the minister warned that some sellers distribute medicines and treatments without official stickers or certification. In some cases, individuals even sell these products online or directly from vehicles. Therefore, he urged citizens to avoid these items completely, emphasizing that they could pose serious health risks and endanger lives.
Meanwhile, this warning follows an official directive issued on May 12, 2026. The Ministry of Health instructed health directorates in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Halabja, Zakho, Soran, Garmian, and Raparin to begin a campaign to seize a type of imported baby milk called “Optilac.”
According to officials, the product failed quality control tests in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. In addition, they confirmed that the ministry never approved its sale or distribution.
At the same time, border security forces reported a smuggling attempt at the Khazer checkpoint. Officers stopped a suspect from Mosul who tried to transport a large shipment of unlicensed medicines into the region.
Security teams inspected the vehicle, confirmed the violation and confiscated the drugs immediately. Finally, officials said they will continue monitoring border crossings to prevent similar cases and protect public health.