Pharmacy education and practice in Iraq: expanding roles, and fostering research

This narrative review provides updated insights into pharmacy education, research, and professional practice in Iraq.

Secondary data were collected from peer-reviewed literature via Google Scholar, government reports, and official records provided by the Syndicate of Iraqi Pharmacists between November and December 2025.

Pharmacy education and practice in Iraq have grown significantly since 1936, with 71 programs now offered across public and private universities, where public institutions maintain competitive admission and private colleges provide broader access. The launch of the PharmD program in 2020 and curricular updates in 2025 aligned training with international standards, adding professional development, marketing, and hospital practice. National accreditation initiatives strengthened quality assurance, while postgraduate pathways, residency training, and the Clinical Pharmacy Board provide advanced specialization. Pharmacists serve in community pharmacies, hospitals, academia, industry, and regulatory bodies. By 2025, Iraq's 15 Arab governorates registered 55 000 pharmacists (12 per 10 000 population), alongside 16 993 community pharmacies, 455 wholesalers, and 611 scientific bureaus. Workforce saturation has led to a government hiring freeze since 2024.

Despite rapid expansion, pharmacy sector faces workforce saturation and limited modernization of community services. Many pharmacists turn to pharmaceutical sales and marketing for better income, while hospital pharmacists support medication safety but remain restricted by systemic barriers. Academic pharmacists emphasize teaching, with research constrained by scarce resources. The pharmaceutical industry remains underdeveloped, requiring investment and reform. Overall, these trends reveal both progress and persistent challenges, highlighting the need for strategic planning to balance workforce supply, expand clinical roles, and strengthen industry capacity.