Treatment Disruptions Linked to Funding Dispute as Patient Advocates Urge Baghdad to Resume Supplies

Hemophilia Patients in Kurdistan at Risk as Baghdad Halts Critical Medicine Supplies

Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj, Sulaimani, Iraq, April 2026  —Hundreds of hemophilia patients across the Kurdistan Region are facing a potentially life-threatening shortage of essential medication after supplies from Baghdad were suspended earlier this year, according to local patient advocates.

Zanyar Adel, head of the Hemophilia Association, warned that the interruption has placed vulnerable patients at immediate risk, particularly those dependent on regular injections to prevent internal bleeding and other serious complications.

"The lives of hundreds of patients are now in danger," Adel said, describing the situation as an escalating humanitarian and public health crisis.

Supplies Halted Since January

According to the association, clotting-factor injections previously supplied by the Iraqi government through Hiwa Hospital have not been delivered since January.

Officials reportedly cited budgetary constraints and broader financial disputes between Baghdad and Erbil as reasons for the suspension.

The disruption has left patients scrambling to secure treatment through private channels, where availability remains limited and costs are prohibitive.

Rising Human Cost

The Kurdistan Region has more than 1,000 registered hemophilia patients, including around 400 in Sulaymaniyah alone, according to association figures.

Each patient typically requires at least one injection per week to prevent spontaneous bleeding episodes.

At roughly $400 per dose, the treatment is far beyond the reach of many families.

Without regular medication, patients face severe bleeding, joint damage, organ complications, and potentially death.

Political Pressure Mounts

Adel called on Kurdish lawmakers in Baghdad to intervene immediately and press the federal government to restore shipments.

He said continued delays could have irreversible consequences.

"This is no longer a bureaucratic issue," he said. "It is a matter of life and death."

The crisis adds to growing tensions over healthcare funding and resource allocation between Iraq's federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Broader Implications

The medication shortage highlights the vulnerability of patients when political and budgetary disputes disrupt essential public services.

For families already burdened by chronic illness, the consequences are immediate and devastating.

The dispute also risks deepening public frustration over the politicization of healthcare in Iraq.

What Happens Next?

Unless Baghdad resumes deliveries soon, hospitals and patient organizations warn that emergency cases could rise sharply in the coming weeks.

Advocates are expected to intensify lobbying efforts, while affected families may seek international assistance if domestic solutions fail to materialize.

For many patients, time is rapidly running out.

Tags: #Kurdistan #Iraq #Hemophilia #Healthcare #Sulaymaniyah #Baghdad #KRG #PublicHealth #KurdishPolicyAnalysis