The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Health has issued a strong warning about purchasing medicine through online platforms. Health Minister Saman Barzanji announced a wide-ranging reform campaign to clean up the pharmaceutical sector in the region.
He stated that under the supervision of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, a pharmaceutical reform movement has begun. The aim is to eliminate counterfeit, low-quality, and smuggled medicines from the Kurdistan Region.
The minister emphasized that all medicines must be imported under official supervision and undergo quality control checks. Selling any medicine without official labeling is now banned.
He also urged the public not to buy any medicine online, under any circumstances. Many of the drugs sold online—such as those marketed for teeth whitening, skin lightening, weight loss, or muscle gain—are smuggled and unlicensed.
The minister stressed that only officially sourced, approved, and properly controlled medicine is considered legal and safe. Medicines must come from clearly identified production facilities and be monitored throughout the entire supply chain—including importation, distribution, inspection, and sales—under the supervision of the Kurdistan Regional Government.