Kurdistan hemophilia association warns of drug shortage in Sulaymaniyah

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — The Kurdistan Region Hemophilia Patients Association said at a press conference in Sulaymaniyah that the ongoing shortage of hemophilia medication and injections in the region is putting the lives of hundreds of patients at risk. Association President Adil Zaniyar said more than 350 hemophilia patients are registered in Sulaymaniyah and more than 7,000 across Iraq. Zaniyar attributed the shortage to the delayed formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the failure to allocate sufficient financial resources. Each patient requires 30 to 40 injections per month, with a single injection costing between $400 and $500, an expense he said is beyond the means of many families. Zaniyar called on the Kurdistan Regional Government to form a new cabinet swiftly, resolve outstanding health and financial files, and secure drug supplies. He also urged the Iraqi Health Ministry and the federal government to keep hemophilia drug procurement separate from broader financial and political disputes, and asked Iraqi parliament members to take a firm stance in protecting the rights of hemophilia patients.