Health Commission of Parliament: 'Drug Crisis' Continues; Ghalibaf: Drugs are 'Stockpiled' in Customs

Following the escalation of the drug and medical crisis in Iran, as well as protests from patients and various sectors of the Iranian health system, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly has reported the existence of drugs, stating that a large quantity is 'stockpiled' in customs. According to Iranian media, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated in today's public session on Tuesday, June 29, that drugs are 'stockpiled' in customs and medical supplies 'do not reach the people.' After presenting the third report from the Health and Treatment Commission regarding 'the performance of executive bodies in the areas of importing and clearing medical equipment and managing the drug market' to the parliament and announcing a severe shortage of certain drug items in the country, he said: 'We should not witness such strokes in the field of drugs and medical equipment.' The Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly noted that the 'value-added tax' on essential goods, drugs, and medical equipment has been set at 'one percent', declaring that this rate for drugs should be 'zero'. Drugs and medical services have faced severe price increases along with shortages in recent years, while drugs and medical affairs are not subject to the punitive sanctions of the United States and the international community, and the Islamic Republic can take necessary actions to procure them. Meanwhile, Salman Ishaqi, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, in explaining the third report from the Health Commission on the performance of executive bodies in managing medical and drug equipment, called for a 'proactive approach' by the Ministry of Health and Treatment of Ebrahim Raisi's government. He stated that despite numerous promises from government officials, the 'drug crisis continues', adding that now it is time for the 'shortage and rampant price increase' of medical equipment. On the other hand, Ali Babaei Karami, a member of the Social Commission of the parliament, also stated today that transplant patients, hemophiliacs, and special patients are 'facing problems in obtaining drugs.' He noted that 'more than 200 items' of drugs are facing 'shortages' in the country, stating that they have blocked the import of foreign drugs to 'produce drugs domestically', but domestic companies are 'not supported.' The import of drugs and the pharmaceutical industry in Iran is facing numerous challenges, to the extent that on June 10, a member of the 'Pharmaceutical Industry Owners Syndicate' reported the transfer of several pharmaceutical factories to Turkey. Morteza Khairabadi, a member of the board of directors of the Human Pharmaceutical Industry Syndicate, said a few weeks ago in a session of the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly that Turkey is trying to 'transfer our pharmaceutical factories to its own country' and has already 'completely transferred several of our pharmaceutical factories to its country.' The problem of drug and medical equipment shortages in Iran coincides with the announcement of the discovery of illegal warehouses. The CEO of the Iranian Organization of State-Owned Properties attributed the destruction of European serums during the peak of the shortage to 'lack of coordination.' A police official reported that 40 million 'rare drugs' were discovered. A member of the 'Pharmaceutical Industry Owners Syndicate' reported the transfer of several Iranian pharmaceutical factories to Turkey. The discovery of 20 million 'illegal drugs' in Tehran. One cannot get sick; there are no drugs or they are expensive.