Specialized Workshop at the Ministry of Health to Advance Pharmaceutical Innovation Under the “Imkan” Program in Collaboration with Sanofi

Under the Patronage of His Excellency Minister of Health Dr. Saleh Mahdi Al-Hasnawi; the Directorate of Specialized Centers in the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Sanofi organize a Specialized Workshop within “Imcan” Program to Strengthen the Health System in Iraq

• IMCAN program delivers on its commitment to strengthen Iraq’s healthcare system through structured capacity building in health technology assessment and biosimilars knowledge development
• Scientific exchange forums under IMCAN foster sustainable healthcare practices by facilitating regional knowledge sharing and implementation of global best practices

Baghdad, July 27, 2025: The Iraqi Ministry of Health’s Directorate of Specialized Centers and Sanofi, and under the patronage of His Excellency Minister of Health Professor Dr. Saleh Mahdi Al-Hasnawi, organized a scientific workshop titled: “Biosimilars and Intellectual Property: Policy Development and Future Planning in Light of Neighboring Countries’ Experiences” at the Ministry’s headquarters hall on Sunday, July 27, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Imcan program launched in February 2025.The workshop was attended by several senior officials and experts from the Ministry and Sanofi, who praised the progress achieved by the partnership in terms of transferring global expertise and supporting medical innovation in Iraq.

In cooperation with Jordan Food and Drug administration (JFDA) and the Ministry of health in Lebanon, the workshop discussed several important topics, notably: biosimilars concepts and their regulatory frameworks, intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical sector, and health policies in light of regional and international experiences.

H.E. Dr. Saleh Mahdi Al-Hasnawi
Minister of Health of Iraq

His Excellency the Iraqi Minister of Health, Dr. Saleh Al-Hasnawi, emphasized during a special meeting with the Sanofi delegation headed by Dr. Rami Nassar the importance of global partnerships in supporting and developing the healthcare sector in Iraq. He stressed the Ministry’s commitment to updating pharmaceutical policies in line with the latest international standards and best practices.

Dr. Hani Al-Aqabi, ”
Technical Deputy Minister of Health of Iraq

during his opening speech Dr. Hani emphasized, “The Ministry is keen on building quality partnerships with globally leading institutions like Sanofi, aligning with its aspirations to strengthen Iraq’s healthcare sector and transfer global expertise to the local healthcare environment. This agreement represents an advanced model for public-private sector integration in serving Iraqi patients.”

Dr. Ahmed Al-Abadi,
Head of the Directorate of Specialized Centers

Dr Ahmed stated, “The Imcan agreement is a cornerstone of our collaboration with Sanofi. It encompasses comprehensive training initiatives, from nursing education to combating counterfeit medicines. Our focus areas include building staff capabilities, enhancing system efficiency, modernizing infrastructure, and improving access to innovative treatments. This cooperation is considered an effective example of the Iraqi Ministry of Health’s national vision in achieving qualitative and sustainable transformation in the healthcare sector.”

Dr. Rami Nassar

Head of Pharma for the Levant and Country Lead of Sanofi in Jordan

” We are an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Since the launch of ‘IMCAN’ program in Iraq in February, we have begun establishing solid scientific foundations that enhance health system capabilities, starting with training on health technology assessment, and today we continue this journey with an distinguished scientific meeting about biosimilars and intellectual property, sharing successful experiences from neighboring countries. These meetings are steps toward building a more efficient and sustainable health system based on global best practices.”

Mr. Marwan Sharif

Head of Vaccines for the Levant at Sanofi

“The ‘Imcan’ initiative stands as a key pillar in our shared mission to build a high-performing, future-ready healthcare system driven by sustainability and innovation.”

About the “Imcan” Program:

Developed in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Health, the “Imcan” program aims to empower healthcare professionals, enhance operational efficiency, and foster innovation in medical services through key initiatives, including:

• Capacity building for Doctors and Nurses through advanced educational and training programs.
• Enhancing the pharmacoeconomic process and supporting the development of Iraqi Economic guidelines
• Optimizing regulatory processes to strengthen healthcare systems in line with global best practices.
• Enhancing health needs assessment and supply chain efficiency by optimizing evaluation mechanisms to meet the healthcare sector’s demands.
• Strengthening pharmacovigilance (PV) processes to ensure the highest levels of safety and quality in medication use.

Future Prospects of Cooperation

This agreement lays the foundation for a series of joint initiatives and increased investment in the healthcare sector. Through the collaboration between the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Sanofi, Iraq will accelerate healthcare transformation, adopt advanced medical technologies and enhance service efficiency to meet the highest global standards.

About Sanofi
Sanofi is an R&D driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. We apply our deep understanding of the immune system to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world, with an innovative pipeline that could benefit millions more. Our team is guided by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives; this inspires us to drive progress and deliver positive impact for our people and the communities we serve, by addressing the most urgent healthcare, environmental, and societal challenges of our time.
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