Erbil pharmacy chain under investigation for medicine substitution scandal

Rudaw Net

27-03-2025

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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Medical Control Agency (KMCA) announced on Wednesday that it has formed a joint investigation committee with the Kurdistan Region's health ministry to probe reports that the owner of a well-known pharmacy chain instructed his staff to provide patients with generic substitutes of their prescribed medications without their knowledge.
In a leaked audio recording that has gone viral in the last two days, the chain owner is heard telling employees, 'If the medication requested by the patients is not in stock, give them a substitution and stay quiet about it unless they ask. If they [patients] ask, tell them the packaging has changed, but the medication is the same.'
The KMCA on Wednesday stated that the Kurdistan Region's health ministry 'has decided to establish a joint investigative committee to look into the case, assess the potential impact on patients' safety, and take legal and judicial measures against any violations.'
Of note, the same pharmacy chain had previously been shut down for eight months due to violations involving the sale of banned, illegal, and smuggled medications, according to the KMCA.
Speaking to Rudaw, Erbil resident Harem Faris shared his experience stating, 'sometimes, when you ask the [pharmacy staff] for a [specific] brand, they offer you a substitute instead, saying it's the same formula.'
Medical doctor Mohammed Omer told Rudaw however that 'swapping medication or selling substitution medications is generally a big mistake and there are many instances when it has backfired.' He shared a case where a patient experienced dangerous side effects, including 'internal bleeding in their stomach and duodenum,' after taking a substituted medication.
The KMCA asserted on Thursday that it is committed to 'ensuring the availability of high-quality, safe, and affordable medications through regulatory reforms and strict enforcement.'
The agency noted successes in reducing price medications 'from 17 percent to 20 percent in 2024 alone, resulting in an estimated 239 billion Iraqi dinars [around $163 million] in cost savings.'
The KMCA urged people to ensure that the medications they purchase carry the official stamp of the Kurdistan Region's health ministry.
This is not the first time pharmacies have faced violations in Erbil this year. Earlier this month, authorities shut down over 25 pharmacies in the northeastern district of Soran as part of a campaign targeting expired or unauthorized medications, according to health authorities.