Iraq faces an epidemic of forged academic degrees that is eroding the country's economic, political, and social foundations. Fake diplomas—purchased through bribery, corruption, or other fraudulent means—are easy to obtain both in Iraq and abroad, with consequences reaching from hospital wards to the highest levels of government.One of the most alarming trends is the spread of fake medical and health-related degrees. Thousands of unqualified or underqualified individuals have entered Iraq's