The General Directorate of Health in Sulaymaniyah announced today that funds have officially been released for the purchase of medicines for the city’s hospitals.

This step follows directives from Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and Awat Sheikh Janab, KRG Minister of Finance. It is expected that by the end of this year, the chronic shortage of medicines and medical supplies in Sulaymaniyah will be resolved.

Medicines Funded: Addressing a Longstanding Crisis

In its statement, the Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Health confirmed that cash has now been provided through the Kurdistan Regional Bank’s Sulaymaniyah branch. This allocation enables the purchase of medicines and necessary medical equipment, putting an end to the shortage that has long disrupted healthcare services in the governorate.

Warnings from Sulaymaniyah Health and Efforts for Resolution

In recent days, the Sulaymaniyah Health Directorate had issued urgent warnings about critical shortages of medicines, forcing hospitals to suspend some surgeries due to a lack of supplies. On September 11, Dr. Sabah Hawrami, head of the directorate, warned that for 2025, 27 billion dinars had been allocated for medicines and medical needs, but without liquidity they were unable to pay suppliers—resulting in severe shortages and suspended operations.

However, on September 14, following intensified efforts and instructions from Deputy Prime Minister Talabani and Finance Minister Janab, the issue of funding for medicines and medical supplies in Sulaymaniyah was resolved, ensuring that the crisis will be brought to an end by year’s close.

On September 14th, after 24 hours of continuous coverage by Channel8, the problem of cash shortages in the Sulaimaniyah health sector was resolved.

The Role of Media in Addressing the Crisis
Omed Hidayat, Deputy Director of Sulaimaniyah Shar Hospital, emphasized the impact of Channel8’s reporting in highlighting the cash shortage issue and pushing for its resolution.

He explained that, following the start of the media campaign, and “within 24 hours on the directive of Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, a meeting was held between the General Director of Health in Sulaimaniyah and the General Director of Banks.”