Arash Mahboubi, board member of the Tehran Pharmacists Association and faculty member at Shahid Beheshti University, highlighted Iran’s major progress in the pharmaceutical sector during a live program, noting significant foreign currency savings resulting from this self-sufficiency.
Recalling the past, Mahboubi explained that at the beginning of the Islamic Revolution, Iran lacked a national pharmaceutical industry, with most medicines either imported or produced under foreign licenses.
He emphasized that the efforts of young scientists and pharmacy graduates have transformed the sector over the past decades, with over 90%, and in some reports up to 98–99%, of medicines now produced domestically.
Mahboubi underlined the importance of this achievement in saving billions in foreign exchange. He said the 10% of medicines which are imported account for 18–50% of the sector’s currency costs.
Last year, about $3.5 billion was allocated for medicines and equipment, but without domestic production, this figure could have reached $10–15 billion, according to him.
He also stressed the quality of locally-produced medicines, expressing hope that adherence to international standards under the supervision of the Food and Drug Organization will ensure safe and reliable medicines for the public.
