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Iran says to limit drug import

Business Materials 27 January 2015 19:09 (UTC +04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

The Iranian Food and Drug Organization director Rasoul Dinarvand announced Jan. 27 that starting next year (March 21) the country will limit its drug import, Fars news agency reported.

Dinarvand added, "It is predicted that the drug import for the next year will be worth $800 million; and even that with some restriction."

Speaking at a conference on improving drug exports, Dinarvand stressed the need to meet domestic demand not through imports, but by domestic production.

He also maintained that despite an inflation of 20 to 40 percent in the first six months of the Iranian year (starting March 21), there was no change in price for drugs.

The official also maintained that public opinion polls show that people are satisfied with the current administration's policies on drugs and health in general.

He regretted the fact that with $50 billion worth of drug imports, the country has "not been a good exporter."

In the recent years, Iran's drug export has hit $150 million, which is not enough of course, he noted, adding that the $4 billion-worth drugs market in Iran is a very small one.

On Jan. 21, Dinarvand said Iran was going to produce 12 types of anti-cancer drugs within 2 months. The drugs have thus far been imported, IRNA news agency reported.

"Four of these drugs have already been presented to the Iranian markets and eight of them have gained the mass production licenses and will be presented to the market by the Iranian year-end (March 20, 2015)," he had said at a press conference.

Edited by CN

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