The Iraqi Health Ministry warned on Thursday people posing as doctors were treating COVID-19 patients in illegal medical centers, putting the lives of Iraqis under threat.
“In the past few months, we have documented violations that threaten the lives of citizens. Some unauthorized persons are treating COVID-19 patients in illegitimate medical centers, and are promoting their practices through social media websites,” the Ministry said in a statement carried by the official news agency, nina.
It also accused the fake doctors of spreading misleading information about the pandemic, saying they are urging citizens not to wear masks and not to be vaccinated.
“Such practices are punished by Article 368 of the Iraqi Penal Code 111 of 1969,” the Ministry said, adding that coordination with the judicial and security authorities is necessary to follow up on the matter.
“We are keen to follow up the implementation of all preventive measures to confront the pandemic based on the recommendations of the Supreme Committee for National Health and Safety in order to maintain health security,” the Ministry statement added.
Iraq recorded 4,512 COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Ministry said Thursday.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic in Iraq, 1,132,092 patients have contracted the disease, 1,028,627 of whom have recovered and 15,883 have died.
