Commercialization Reaches Pharmacies; Hot Fever in Northern City and Bankruptcy of Old Pharmacies

Pharmacy practice has strayed from its original concept, and according to the head of the Iranian Pharmacists Association, excessive establishment of pharmacies has led to the brink of bankruptcy for older pharmacies; an event that experts attribute to commercialization and the dominance of economic aspects over therapeutic functions in this sector. Shahram Kalantari emphasized that the excessive increase in the number of pharmacies by 30% in one year has put pressure on the economy of older pharmacies. This situation, according to Kalantari, has led to the bankruptcy of older pharmacies and the addition of investors in some pharmacies while others have changed professions. The commercial perspective in this sector is evident in the distribution of pharmacies, as Kalantari stated that in some provinces there is one pharmacy for every 11,000 people, while in some areas of northern Tehran, there is one pharmacy for every 1,500 people. The news agency 'Mehr' confirmed the commercialization of pharmacies in a report published on December 22, stating: 'The excessive issuance of pharmacy establishment licenses in the past year has forced pharmacies to sell cosmetics, hygiene products, and supplements to avoid bankruptcy.' Statistics also show that after the implementation of the new pharmacy establishment regulations, between 250 to 300 pharmacies are established monthly in the country. Based on these statistics, 'Mehr' reported that in the past two years, the number of pharmacies in various provinces has increased by 30 to 40%. One criticism of the pharmacy establishment system is the elimination of geographic distance and the removal of monopoly in the issuance of establishment licenses, which critics believe is a factor in competition among pharmacies, whereas they argue that according to medical system laws, medical institutions like pharmacies do not have the right to compete with each other. On the other hand, supporters of this new trend believe that the existence of a competitive environment and the removal of monopoly leads to increased access for people to pharmaceutical and health needs and also improves the quality of goods and services offered in pharmacies. Meanwhile, in the past year or two, the crisis of drug shortages on one hand and the excessive increase in drug prices on the other have put families in Iran in a crisis regarding treatment and medication.