Iran Health Minister warns of antibiotic misuse and industry liquidity issues

Iran's Minister of Health, Mohammad Reza Zafarkandi, has raised concerns regarding the culture of drug consumption, specifically criticizing the excessive prescription of antibiotics. During the opening of the International Pharmaceutical and Related Industries Exhibition in Tehran, he questioned why prescriptions for common colds often include as many as 100 units of amoxicillin, warning that failure to combat microbial resistance will lead to severe future complications.

Zafarkandi noted that while the country has successfully allocated foreign currency for medicine, pharmaceutical companies are facing liquidity crises. He emphasized that insurance providers must settle outstanding debts to these companies to ensure stability. Furthermore, he stated that for pharmaceutical factories to remain operational, drug pricing must reflect actual production costs rather than being set below them.