TEHRAN- Iran has tripled exports of medicine with the pharmaceutical products being exported to 40 countries across the world, said the head of the Food and Drug Administration.

Heidar Mohammadi made the remarks on Friday on the sidelines of his visit to the 8th International Exhibition on Pharmaceuticals and Related Industries IRANPHARMA EXPO 2023, ISNA reported.

“The increase in medicine exports is a sign of Iran's good interaction with neighboring countries. We hope to develop the access of the people of the region to quality medicine at the G5 summit and regional cooperation," Mohammadi added.

Every year, IRANPHARMA EXPO, as an all-encompassing international event in the pharmaceutical industries, hosts manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical equipment and machinery, pharmaceutical printing and packaging, recombinant drugs, herbal medicine, food, and dietary supplements, knowledge-based companies, and pharmaceutical distributors, scientific and pharmaceutical research facilities, associations and health-oriented publications and journals.

The Eighth International Exhibition of Pharmaceuticals and Related Industries (IRANPHARMA EXPO 2023) was held at Imam Khomeini Grand Campus (Mosala) in Tehran, during September 27-29.

A total of 427 domestic companies and 282 foreign companies from 33 countries participated in Iran Pharma Expo 2023.

Mohammadi considered the presence of foreign countries as one of the biggest achievements of the IranPharma Expo.

He pointed out Iran Pharma exhibition is an excellent opportunity for showcasing the national potentials and capabilities of experts and pharmaceutical industries.

This year this exhibition was held with more grandeur and it was welcomed by many visitors.

The high-ranking officials of the country visited the Expo and learned more about the capabilities of the country's pharmaceutical industries.

Medicine exports

In April, Mohammadi said the exports of medicine are expected to increase to around $200 million in the current year, which started on March 21, from some $60 million last year.

“The increase in drug production is supported by stable supply for exports, and our forecast for exports in the current year is $200 million,” IRNA quoted Heidar Mohammadi, as saying.

Currently, the production of medicine, medical equipment, and powdered milk is supported by subsidies. So, their exports were very limited, but it is hoped that their exports will increase next year, he explained.

Referring to the shortage of 100 drug items in the country, he said: “Currently, nearly one and a half percent of the country's pharmaceutical need is imported. Along with domestic production, it is done as soon as the domestic production meets the demand.”

According to the Food and Drug Administration, some $60 million worth of medicine was exported in the calendar year 1400 (March 2021-March 2022).

The figure was about $180 million in the year 1397 (March 2018-March 2019). The country imports some $1 billion of drugs per year.

A total of 227 knowledge-based firms are supplying medical equipment for health centers across the country, according to the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology.

Iranian-made pharmaceuticals are currently exported to Canada, Japan, and Europe, Faramarz Ekhteraei, chairman of the Iranian Pharmaceutical Industries Syndicate said, emphasizing that 72 percent of the country's pharmaceutical raw materials are domestically produced.

Some 40 percent of the country's total pharmaceutical exports are biotechnology products, a member of the board of directors of the Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Medical Biotechnology Products said.

MT/MG