Kurdistan Region receives $43 million in elusive medication, equipment

DUHOK – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Health has announced the receipt of rare medical supplies valued at $43 million.

These crucial resources, unveiled in a ceremony today, were donated by the Norwegian organization MAIN and the Barzani Charity Foundation. The shipment includes 16,316 units of the specialized medication Humira, used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, along with other essential medical supplies, which are often difficult to obtain in local markets.

This allocation is housed at a central pharmacy depot in Dohuk and will be distributed as needed across the provinces of Duhok, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah, with a focus on refugee and displaced populations. This marks the second occasion in the past seven months that international agencies have provided medical aid to the Kurdistan Region, following a previous $16 million donation last September.

These supplies are particularly crucial as they address a gap in the availability of treatments for severe health conditions that are not commonly catered to in the region. The funding for these initiatives stems from a partnership between the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Barzani Charity Foundation.

Lazgin Jamil, the NRC representative in the Kurdistan Region, highlighted ongoing efforts to involve more international organizations in these humanitarian endeavors during a press conference in Dohuk. Jamil provided details, stating, “The drugs have been purchased and delivered to the Kurdistan Region on six trucks.”

The NRC and Barzani Charity Foundation have previously facilitated the provision of $2 million worth of medicines to the region, with plans to procure up to $30 million in pharmaceuticals this year.