Iran Food and Drug Administration addresses medicine supply and currency allocation

Officials from Iran’s Food and Drug Administration have addressed concerns regarding currency allocation and the stability of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Akbar Abdollahiasl, Director General of Drugs, clarified that recent changes in how currency is sourced for certain items do not mean that essential medicines for patients with chronic or life-threatening conditions, such as cancer, thalassemia, or MS, are being shifted to the free market. He noted that items like colors, essences, and certain packaging materials have a minimal impact on total drug costs and that currency should be prioritized for vital active ingredients rather than secondary supplies.

Separately, Mehdi Pirsalehi, Deputy Minister and Head of the Food and Drug Administration, stated that while drug shortages are currently at one of their lowest levels compared to previous periods, importing medicine remains difficult. He highlighted that the industry is showing resilience despite the challenges posed by sanctions and recent wartime damage to infrastructure. Pirsalehi emphasized the need to strengthen domestic production of raw materials and intermediates to reduce reliance on imports and mitigate the extra time and costs associated with navigating current import restrictions.