Tripoli based Libyan PM, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, yesterday sacked Acting Health Minister, Abujanah (Decree No. 185 of 2025) from his post. The decree does not affect Abujanah’s role as Deputy Prime Minister
The decision also stipulated the suspension of several officials from work and their referral to administrative investigation, headed by the Acting Minister, ‘‘against the background of violating the rules of jurisdiction assigned to the National Authority for Cancer Control, in accordance with Cabinet Resolution No. (963) of 2022’’.
The sacking comes on the back of the then Acting Health Minister contracting with Iraq to purchase cancer treatment medicine from its factory. Procedure prescribes that the Minister should have obtained the prior approval of the National Authority for Cancer Control before agreeing such a purchase.
The power of social media
The story exploded on Libyan social media a few days ago after the Iraqi Health Minister celebrated the export to Iraqi news.
Libyan social media, however, portrayed the import of Iraqi medicine as yet another act of corruption by its politicians, preferring to import perceived cheaper and inferior Iraqi medicine instead of the more expensive leading international brands.
This, despite the Health Ministry holding a press conference to assure the public that it had sent an inspection team to inspect the Iraqi factory, and that the factory fulfils all international medical production and formula standards.
