Kurdistan Region health minister urges calm, says medicine supplies are adequate

ERBIL — Kurdistan Region Health Minister Saman Barzinji urged citizens Monday not to panic buy medicines, saying supplies in both public and private sectors are sufficient and that prices have not increased.

“There is a good quantity of medicines and medical supplies in companies and warehouses,” Barzinji said, adding that residents should purchase only prescribed doses and should not pay above the government-set price listed on official stickers attached to each product.

The minister said additional measures are being taken to ensure continued supply to hospitals, emergency units, operating rooms and intensive care wards as part of an emergency response plan. Rapid response medical teams, ambulance units and mobile medical teams have been prepared to respond to incidents and transport patients.

The statement comes as Erbil has been targeted repeatedly since Saturday by Iranian strikes and Iran-aligned militia drone attacks aimed at the U.S. Consulate and Erbil Air Base, as well as Iranian strikes on Kurdish opposition camps in Erbil, Koya and Sulaymaniyah.