Iraqi health minister says government needs $8.24 billion a month for salaries as 'there is no money'

Iraqi Health Minister Abdul Hussein al-Musawi told a meeting of ministry staff in Baghdad "there is no money," saying the government needs about 10.8 trillion dinars (roughly $8.24 billion) a month to cover salaries and basic obligations. According to Al Jazeera's report on 6 August 2026 (15 Mordad 1405), it is the first time an Iraqi minister has spoken this openly about the state's difficulty financing basic expenditure.

Iraq's oil revenue has fallen sharply since exports through the Strait of Hormuz halted, the report said. A government source told Al Jazeera total monthly salaries for civil servants, retirees and welfare beneficiaries run to 7.8 trillion dinars ($6 billion), of which only 3.5 trillion dinars ($2.7 billion) has been disbursed so far, leaving a deficit of about 3.2 trillion dinars ($2.4 billion) for the current month. Government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi had earlier warned Baghdad may be forced into domestic and external borrowing if the effects of the Hormuz closure continue.

Government sources said an austerity plan is under consideration, including cutting food ration card allocations and reducing the number of beneficiaries from 27 million to 20 million people.