Health Minister Abdul Hussein Al-Moussawi affirmed on Saturday the Ministry of Health's commitment to addressing restrictions on drug approvals and keeping pace with international developments. He also announced plans to expand the list of approved medicines and benefit from the latest global pharmaceutical advancements.

Al-Moussawi said the ministry had held an extensive meeting with Roche and several European pharmaceutical companies to discuss the latest developments in the global pharmaceutical industry.

He explained that although certain restrictions govern drug approvals through the Ministry of Health's Drug Selection Committee, which includes senior pharmacists and university professors, the ministry is committed to reviewing and expanding the list of approved medications.

He stressed that medicines approved by regulatory authorities in the United States, Japan, and Europe, and used in leading hospitals worldwide, should not be unavailable in Iraq. He particularly emphasized the importance of making advanced treatments accessible to patients with cancer, rare diseases, and chronic illnesses.

The minister affirmed that the ministry would remain open to developments and innovations in the global pharmaceutical sector, avoiding any form of isolation in adopting medical advancements. He also noted that several ideas and an initial proposal had been submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration.