Intensification of Healthcare Crisis in Iran; Food and Drug Organization Calls for Establishment of 'Strategic Drug Reserve'

A senior official from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of the Islamic Republic has spoken about the unsatisfactory state of the country's 'drug reserve' and has called for the establishment of a 'strategic reserve' in this area. Haidar Mohammadi, head of the Food and Drug Organization of the Ministry of Health under President Ebrahim Raisi, told the ILNA news agency that he has requested the 'Planning and Budget Organization' to provide 'funding' to create a 'strategic drug reserve.' He added that the goal is to create a 'three to six-month drug reserve' in the country and that production of certain items that are no longer in 'short supply' will continue to ensure a 'good reserve' is established. Senior officials of the Islamic Republic have consistently claimed that there is a complete supply of medication and no fundamental shortages in this area. Bahram Einollahi, the Iranian Minister of Health, has mentioned in recent months that the shortage of drugs has decreased from 400 items to 70 and claimed 'an agreement with the Central Bank' for 'one and a half billion dollars' in foreign currency needed for drugs and medical equipment. However, shortly after, on August 7, Salman Ishaqi, spokesman for the Health Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, reported a 'crisis of drug shortages' in the country and stated that neglecting this issue would lead to 'deaths' caused by drug shortages. Haidar Mohammadi reiterated on August 15 that 'the shortages we have must be resolved,' stating that last year there was a period of 'anesthesia drug shortages, but with the resolution of that issue, we were able to create a drug reserve this year.' These claims come amid reports from domestic media, where Mohammad Azariniya, CEO of the pharmaceutical company 'Alhavi,' wrote in a letter to the head of the Food and Drug Organization that 'due to the unconventional and illegal actions of the Food and Drug Organization and despite this company's tireless efforts to address drug shortages, all activities of this 55-year-old company have been suspended as of August 15, 2023, and all personnel (about 500 people) will be laid off.' In this context, a pharmacist residing in Tehran told the Persian section of 'Voice of America' that since last December, 'no foreign currency' has been allocated for the procurement of raw materials for drugs or medical equipment. He emphasized that due to 'lack of currency allocation,' shortages have manifested in all pharmaceutical sectors, and 'supplying simple medications' has also become problematic. Another pharmacist from Tehran also reported that currently 'vital drugs' such as the heart medication Amiodarone, Plavix for preventing blood clots typically used after a heart attack, and inhalers for asthma and bronchitis are also 'unavailable.'