Latest news with #Al-Lami
Iraqi News
30-07-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq's pharmaceutical industry flourishes, saving over $1 billion annually
Baghdad ( – Iraq is witnessing significant advancements in localizing its pharmaceutical industry, a strategic move that has already saved the country over $1 billion annually. Hamoudi Al-Lami, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Industry and Private Sector Development, announced today, Tuesday (July 29, 2025), that 34 pharmaceutical factories are currently operating at full capacity, with an additional 178 applications pending for new drug manufacturing plants. Al-Lami told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the government initiated a comprehensive program to localize the pharmaceutical industry from its very first week in office. This drive is underpinned by supportive Council of Ministers resolutions issued in 2023, which facilitate both the expansion of existing projects and the establishment of new ones. These facilitations include offering loans to investors and accepting production lines as collateral for opening credit. Government support extends to ensuring the availability of essential raw materials for both current and future industrial projects. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health has significantly reviewed and increased the prices at which it purchases medicines from national factories, more than doubling them. This policy has led to a surge in the value of contracts for the General Company for Marketing Drugs, rising from 144 billion Iraqi Dinars at the start of the current government's term to over 600 billion Dinars today. Al-Lami highlighted that domestically produced medicines now cover approximately a quarter of the cost of imported drugs, directly contributing to the annual savings exceeding $1 billion. The number of applications to establish factories for medicines and medical supplies has climbed to 178 as of July 1, up from 100 previously. These applications cover a diverse range of products, including various medicines, medical consumables, surgical sutures, intravenous solutions, syringes, and other medical devices, all thanks to the robust government support for investors. The number of operational pharmaceutical factories in Iraq has increased to 34, a notable rise from 22 at the time the current government was formed. Al-Lami pointed out that the 22 factories had remained constant since the establishment of the first pharmaceutical factory in 1956 until the current administration. The newly established factories are now operating at full capacity, substantially increasing the coverage of locally produced medicines. Al-Lami stressed that domestically produced medicines adhere to the highest international standards and specifications, undergoing rigorous pharmaceutical oversight using the latest technologies. Clinical trials are also being conducted for complex medications, such as those for blood diseases and cancer, which are now being produced locally through technology transfer from international companies. Concluding his remarks, Al-Lami reiterated that the Prime Minister's directives emphasize that 'efficacy and safety in drug production are a red line.' He highlighted that during the current government's tenure, 38 new medications for hypertension, 33 for diabetes, and 58 types of antibiotics covering both adults and children in various forms have been added to local production. Furthermore, the local production of 25 cancer treatment drugs has commenced through technology transfer initiatives.
Shafaq News
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Integrity Commission warns parties over election fund misuse
Shafaq News – Baghdad The Iraqi Federal Commission of Integrity warned, on Monday, political parties against exploiting public funds or official positions for electoral gain. Speaking during a high-level meeting at the Commission's headquarters, Chairman Mohammed Ali al-Lami emphasized the need for close scrutiny of political financing and firm safeguards to prevent state resources or government roles from being misused for campaign purposes. Al-Lami introduced Behavioral Code No. 1 of 2025, which bans political activity in government offices, official meetings, and places of worship, calling on all institutions to apply the directive without exception. He confirmed ongoing coordination with the Accountability and Justice Commission to vet candidates using national identity records to flag those with prior corruption convictions, crediting the judiciary and the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for advancing the screening process. To deter fraud and vote-buying, the Commission launched hotline 5080 for reporting violations, disclosing that several tips are already under investigation. Al-Lami also flagged active attempts to forge documents and manipulate the electoral process, describing such actions as a direct attack on the institution that embodies the people's will. He concluded by affirming the Commission's mandate to guarantee clean, transparent elections on November 11, aimed at restoring public trust and yielding a Parliament capable of delivering real services.
Iraqi News
30-06-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq aims to cover 70% of local medicine needs within two years
Baghdad ( – Iraq's pharmaceutical localization program is projected to cover 70% of the country's domestic medicine needs within the next two years, Hamoudi Al-Lami, the Prime Minister's Advisor for Industry and Development, announced on Monday (June 30, 2025). Al-Lami stated that local pharmaceutical manufacturing is already seeing continuous growth, currently supplying 40% of Iraq's needs, including some cancer treatments. He revealed that this will be significantly boosted by the opening of several new factories later this year, including three facilities specializing in drugs for cancer and blood diseases. This industrial expansion is backed by strong government support. Al-Lami noted that Ministry of Health contracts for purchasing locally-made drugs have risen to 600 billion Iraqi dinars, driven by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani's emphasis on public-private partnerships. The strategy aims to achieve greater self-sufficiency in a vital sector, enhance healthcare security, and stimulate the national productive economy.
Shafaq News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Anti-Corruption pledges close monitoring of campaign finances
Shafaq News/ Iraq's anti-corruption chief on Monday warned against the misuse of public funds in electoral campaigns, as the country gears up for parliamentary elections in November. During a meeting with officials from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Mohammed Ali al-Lami, head of the Federal Commission of Integrity, announced plans to deploy field teams in Baghdad and other provinces. These teams will work in coordination with IHEC to monitor the electoral process and ensure that state resources are not exploited for political purposes. Al-Lami also emphasized that individuals with criminal convictions who have benefited from the General Amnesty Law are ineligible to run in the upcoming elections. He called on electoral authorities to require party leaders and founders to submit financial disclosure statements, 'underscoring the commission's intent to closely monitor party funding sources and spending in accordance with Iraqi law.'
Iraqi News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Head of Integrity Commission: We Will Not Allow Public Funds to Be Exploited in Election Campaigns
The Head of the Federal Commission of Integrity, Mohammed Ali Al-Lami, affirmed on Monday that public funds must not be exploited in election campaigns. According to a statement from the Commission, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), 'Head of the Integrity Commission Mohammed Ali Al-Lami met today with the Chairman and members of the Board of Commissioners of the Independent High Electoral Commission.' Al-Lami emphasized that 'the Commission will form field teams in Baghdad and the provinces to visit the Electoral Commission and its branches, in coordination with it, to verify the integrity of the procedures in place and to ensure that public resources are not misused during electoral campaigns.' He noted that 'individuals covered by the General Amnesty Law who have had judicial rulings issued against them are not permitted to run in the elections.' He also warned against 'exploiting official positions and executive offices for electoral purposes,' and called on the Commission to 'instruct party leaders and founders to submit financial disclosure statements through the Department of Political Parties and Organizations Affairs.' Al-Lami further confirmed that 'the Commission will monitor the sources of party funding and how those funds are spent, in accordance with its legal mandate.' For his part, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Omar Ahmed Mohammed, expressed the Electoral Commission's 'full readiness to cooperate with the Integrity Commission,' praising its initiative to 'support transparency, protect public funds, and monitor the election campaigns of political blocs and their candidates.'
