The General Company for Making Medicines and Medical Supplies of the ministry announced it will set up a new division to produce medical injection and analysis ampules.

The Nineveh division will run two production lines to produce around 25 million ampules per year. The division will also include a separate antibiotic production department.

Industry ministers called for support for the Iraqi pharmaceutical industry from the Ministry of Health, which can court domestic companies and manufacturers to the sector.

"These companies are distinguished for their quality in making medicines and medical supplies as well as flexibility in dealing with orders," a statement from the Industrial Ministry said.

Ministers also discussed the need for new legislation to govern the sector, such as bans on foreign medicines imported from unregistered companies, the Iraq Development Program reported.

Officials say illegal medicines and corruption in the pharmaceutical sector endanger the lives of the Iraqi people.

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