Iraqi health union says pharmacy owners detained in Kirkuk district on court order

KIRKUK, Iraq — The head of the Kirkuk branch of the Iraqi Health Workers Union, Adnan Ahmed, said Wednesday that private pharmacy owners were detained in the Kela district under a judicial order. Ahmed told reporters the union is following the case and working toward a resolution. Azad Heme Feraj, spokesman for the Kirkuk General Health Directorate, confirmed in a written statement that the detentions were carried out following a complaint from the public prosecutor's office. The detentions come as the local administration began enforcing a decision issued last month to close pharmacies operated by people who lack pharmacy degrees. The closure order targeted pharmacies run by graduates of non-pharmacy disciplines, including laboratory and pathology programs, rather than medical or pharmaceutical faculties. Authorities later suspended enforcement of the closure decision, according to the same statement. No further details on the number of detainees or the next steps in the case were immediately available.