Iraq shows interest to import pharmaceuticals

Iraq has expressed its interest to import pharmaceuticals while hiring medical professionals, officials said.
The Bangladesh embassy in Baghdad in a letter on February 28, 2017 to the ministry of foreign affairs (MoFA) has cited the Iraqi government's interests to import pharmaceuticals and expand cooperation with Bangladesh's health sector.
The Foreign Office conveyed the message to the ministry of health and family welfare (MoH&FW) and the ministry of commerce (MoC), asking the stakeholders for taking steps necessary to move the matter forward.
In the letter, the Iraqi health ministry has expressed its eagerness to engage with Bangladesh's health sector.
Besides, there are scopes for recruitment of medical professionals as well as exports of pharmaceutical products to the war-tattered Arab country.  
"The Iraqi side has provided a list of importable pharmaceuticals products," a senior health ministry official told the FE.
The Iraqi letter has also expressed its eagerness to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh for cooperation in the sector.
Iraqi ministry of health has decided to send a four-member government delegation to visit Dhaka soon to discuss the issue with the Bangladesh government, said the letter.
A leading medicine exporter told the FE they were ready to export medicines if they got specific proposal from Iraq.   
"There will be an inter-ministerial meeting soon to discuss the issue aiming to expand cooperation with Iraq in the health sector," a high official of the ministry of commerce told the FE.
    talhabinhabib@yahoo.com