First Iraqi Medical Congress (IQMC 2025) Concludes its Opening Day in London with Strong International Engagement

18 Jun
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The First Iraqi Medical Congress (IQMC 2025) commenced on Saturday 14th June 2025 in London, under the official patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in the United Kingdom.

The opening day witnessed strong participation from prominent Iraqi medical and academic professionals from both within Iraq and the diaspora, along with representatives from international healthcare institutions.

Key Sessions and Presentations

The first day convened a number of insightful scientific sessions and discussions, most prominently:

  • ‘Digital Transformation in the Iraqi Healthcare System’: Dr Mustafa Abdul Hadi (UK)
  • ‘Heart Transplantation and Stem Cells’: Prof. Saad al-Majid (Canada)
  • ‘Iraq’s Healthcare System – Challenges and Prospects for Reform’: Dr Zahraa al-Naqeeb, Chair of AHEAD
  • A panel on ‘Medical Education Modernisation’ featuring academics from the University of Baghdad and Al-Mustaqbal University
  • An open discussion on ‘The Role of the Iraqi Diaspora in Strengthening the National Health Sector’

Distinguished Speakers

The conference featured insightful contributions from:

  • Dr Jaafar Alawi: The Role of Prevention in Combating Diabetes
  • Dr Mohammed Sami al-Abbadi: Recent Advances in Dermatology
  • Prof. Moamen al-Reifi: Latest Developments in Eye Care
  • Dr Ali Kandawi: Heart Transplantation in Iraq – Current Status and Future Outlook
  • Dr Zaid al-Kadhimi: Stem Cells – Promise and Practicality
  • Dr Dheyaa al-Jumaili: Artificial Intelligence as a Support Tool in Medicine
  • Dr Salman Rawaf: The Critical Role of Early Childhood Prevention
  • Dr Anas Khalil Nail: The Need for Political Reform in Medical Education
  • Dr Samir Shanain – Medical Imaging as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Instrument

Strategic Initiatives

A number of important initiatives were announced on the opening day, including:

  • ‘Healthy Lungs for Iraq’:  A national lung health campaign led by AHEAD in partnership with the University of Liverpool.
  • A session on ‘Ethical and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine’.
  • A workshop on ‘Health Insurance Reform in Iraq’ offering practical legislative proposals to address implementation challenges.

Key Recommendations

The day concluded with a set of strategic recommendations for strengthening Iraq’s healthcare sector:

  • Development of a national roadmap for healthcare reform, grounded in local data and supported by effective digital transformation.
  • Support for organ transplantation and stem cell programmes within Iraq, alongside investment in infrastructure.
  • Reform of medical education to meet international standards and ensure practical training opportunities.
  • Promotion of collaborative partnerships between Iraqi and international institutions in research and medical training.
  • Establishment of a comprehensive database of Iraqi medical professionals abroad to connect them with national development projects.

Core Messages

Several key themes emerged throughout the discussions which emphasised:

  • Health begins with prevention, not emergency care.
  • Healthcare reform depends on the development and training of requisite personnel.
  • Solutions are not ready-made, rather they are forged via dialogue.
  • Digital transformation must reflect Iraq’s unique realities, not imported models.
  • Iraq possesses significant talent and thus requires systems that can support and connect it globally.