Baghdad: Health Minister Abdul Hussein al-Moussawi confirmed on Wednesday that fruitful discussions have taken place to bring major international pharmaceutical companies back to the Iraqi market.

According to Iraqi News Agency, al-Moussawi revealed in a statement that meetings were held in the United Arab Emirates with key international pharmaceutical companies, with assistance from the British Ambassador to Iraq, Irfan Siddiq. The most significant of these discussions was with GSK, a prominent British company known for its cancer drugs and vaccines. GSK, which serves 2.5 billion people globally and boasts annual sales exceeding $3 billion, had previously been active in the Iraqi market but withdrew in recent years.

The minister emphasized that the initiative aligns with a broader vision for revitalizing the Iraqi pharmaceutical market, both publicly and privately. The intent is to attract innovative international firms that had exited the country, aiming to establish a competitive system focused on quality and pricing, particularly in the sectors of cancer drugs and vaccines.

Al-Moussawi stated that the discussions were productive, addressing the necessary conditions and environment for these companies to resume operations in Iraq. Representatives from GSK and other British firms plan to visit Iraq in mid-October to finalize the terms of their return.