The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is spending more than 11.2 billion Iraqi dinars every month on medicine as Baghdad provides only part of the Region’s pharmaceutical needs. KRG Health Minister Dr. Saman Barzanji warned that the Region faces growing healthcare funding challenges, and disputed census results could further affect the 2026 budget.
Dr. Barzanji said that the Kurdistan Region officially rejects Iraq’s recent population census. He said the census could reduce the healthcare rights of KRG citizens. Barzanji explained that Iraq’s Ministry of Planning ignored agreements made with Erbil regarding disputed territories under Article 140. The census also excluded displaced people, which could limit the Region’s financial allocations.
“This census is unfair and politicized,” Barzanji said. “It will directly impact the 2026 budget and public services in the Kurdistan Region.”
Barzanji revealed that Baghdad supplies only 41 percent of the Kurdistan Region’s medicine. To cover the shortfall, the KRG spends 11 billion and 200 million dinars monthly on medicine and medical supplies. These purchases include general medicines, cancer treatments, heart disease medications, and the repair of essential medical equipment. The federal government is supposed to fund these items under the “sovereign budget.”
The Kurdistan Region currently provides healthcare to over 1.2 million displaced persons and refugees. Additionally, thousands of patients from other Iraqi provinces visit KRG hospitals daily. This inflow increases pressure on the Region’s budget and medicine supplies, while federal support remains insufficient.
Barzanji urged officials not to sacrifice healthcare rights to political disputes and stressed securing the Kurdistan Region’s full health-sector funding in the 2026 budget.
As medicine spending costs rise and political tensions continue, the Kurdistan Region’s healthcare system faces a critical challenge. Every dinar spent on medicine has direct consequences for patient care and public health. Ensuring proper funding is now crucial to maintain both financial stability and healthcare access in the Region.
