The Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education announced that the shortage of drugs has increased from 30 to 48 items. The spokesperson for this ministry described the current drug shortage in Iran as 'equal to the global average' and stated that there are no issues in the supply and distribution of drugs. According to the House of Representatives news agency, Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi said on Saturday, August 13, that 'there is always a drug shortage,' adding, 'In the best conditions, we had a shortage of 30 items, which has now reached about 48 items. Therefore, we must strive to prevent this number from increasing.' In recent weeks, reports have emerged about the rarity of certain drugs and their price increases. According to the House of Representatives, Iraj Harirchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, described a 1 to 1.5 percent drug shortage in the best health systems worldwide as 'natural' and added, 'In our country, the current drug shortage is equal to the global average.' This government official also announced that 'there are no issues in supplying and distributing the necessary drugs for the country' and 'appropriate readiness exists.' Regarding reports from some media about drug shortages in Iran, Harirchi said, 'In these conditions, we should not sensationalize natural shortages and the number of drug items without referencing the normal situation, which would exacerbate public concerns.' The statements of health ministry officials come at a time when, according to ISNA news agency, a new shipment of the drug 'Warfarin' is set to arrive from Finland soon to restore the 'unfavorable supply conditions of this drug' to normal. According to this report, Warfarin, which is used as an anticoagulant in heart diseases, has recently become one of the rare drugs, raising concerns among patients. The state-run news agency IRNA also reported on Friday, August 12, citing the Deputy of Food and Drug at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, that 'efforts to reduce the price of drugs for thalassemia patients continue, and consultations with the Food and Drug Organization of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education have been made to review the prices of these patients' medications.' Hossein Nik Nahaad noted that 'in recent days, thalassemia patients have expressed concerns about the costs of obtaining their necessary medications due to price increases and the caps set by insurance organizations.'
Health Ministry Spokesperson: No Issues in Drug Supply and Distribution
Iran's Health Ministry officials claim that the current drug shortages are comparable to global averages and that there are no issues with drug supply or distribution. However, reports indicate a growing number of drugs are becoming rare, raising concerns among patients, particularly those needing specific medications like Warfarin.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iran's Health Ministry officials reported an increase in drug shortages from 30 to 48 items, claiming that this situation is comparable to global averages. Despite these claims, there are growing concerns about the rarity and rising prices of essential medications like Warfarin.
- Drug shortages in Iran have reportedly increased from 30 to 48 items.
- Health officials assert that the current drug shortage is equal to global averages, despite public concerns.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has faced ongoing economic challenges, including sanctions that affect its healthcare system and drug supply chains. Drug shortages are a recurring issue, often leading to public outcry.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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