On Monday, the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Iraqi Airways announced the export of the first shipment of cancer medications to Libya.
However, Libyan health authorities quickly denied having imported or received any medications from Iraq, creating confusion and controversy.
The Iraqi Ambassador to Libya, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, confirmed in a statement the arrival of the shipment of locally manufactured cancer medications in Tripoli, describing it as part of an effort to support bilateral cooperation and enhance pharmaceutical security in the region.
Libya Denies Receiving Shipment
Contradicting Baghdad’s announcement, Haider Al-Sayeh, head of Libya’s National Cancer Control Authority, categorically denied the import of any medications from Iraq or any other Arab or Asian country.
He stated that the Authority exclusively relies on medications imported from the United States and Europe, citing adherence to the highest international standards.
“We are not responsible for any medication supplied outside the official procurement framework, and we bear no legal or medical responsibility for its use,” Al-Sayeh stressed in an official statement.
The National Cancer Control Authority reiterated that all cancer medications approved for patient treatment in Libya are sourced solely from accredited American and European providers. It further emphasized that any medications imported or circulated outside the Authority’s formal system are unofficial, and that full legal accountability lies with the importing or distributing parties.
Growing Controversy
This sharp contradiction between the Iraqi and Libyan statements has sparked widespread controversy, raising serious questions about:
-The fate of the Iraqi shipment,
-The entities involved in the importation process,
-And whether private intermediaries or unofficial channels may have facilitated the deal.
-Concerns have mounted that medications of unknown origin could be entering Libya, posing a serious risk to cancer patients.
A Troubled History of Pharmaceutical Violations
Libya has faced repeated violations in the pharmaceutical sector in recent years. Investigations have uncovered the importation of counterfeit and substandard medications from companies based in India, Cyprus, Turkey, and Malta.
Some of these counterfeit drugs, including cancer treatments, have been linked to allergic reactions and other serious side effects among patients.
The latest episode only deepens fears over the lack of regulatory control in Libya’s pharmaceutical sector, raising urgent calls for stricter oversight.
As of now, the fate of the Iraqi shipment remains unclear.
