Mohammad Abdeh Zadeh, the chairman of the board of the Iranian Human Pharmaceutical Industries Syndicate, speaks about the tumultuous three years of the country's pharmaceutical industry. These years have been accompanied by significant challenges such as COVID-19, currency fluctuations, and sanctions. Abdeh Zadeh states, "We did not expect to be so resilient."
Challenges and Efforts in the Pharmaceutical Industry
The Iranian pharmaceutical industry has faced multiple crises during these years, but through effort and innovation, it has managed to continue production and supply of medicine. Abdeh Zadeh emphasizes that the cost of this survival has been a reduction in the industry's development and future-building capacity. He believes that a balance must be struck between the responsibility of supplying medicine and public interests, and in this regard, the board of the syndicate has always strived to represent the demands of producers.
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This pharmaceutical activist points to the challenges and pressures that have burdened producers, adding, "What greater stress is there than a producer not knowing whether they will have the necessary raw materials in the country a month from now?" These concerns have led to a lack of medicine and shortages in the market.
Responsibility and Future Outlook
Abdeh Zadeh refers to the heavy responsibilities that lie on the board of the syndicate, stating, "A person entering this position must be demanding, responsible, and tireless." He believes that this responsibility is not merely a professional title but requires time investment and continuous follow-up.
This pharmaceutical industry activist also points out the complexities of the drug supply chain, stating that disruptions in any of the links in this chain can lead to shortages in the market. He emphasizes that the pharmaceutical industry has been working to improve conditions and has continued to supply medicine by seeking to create more sustainable transportation routes from countries like India and China.
Abdeh Zadeh, referring to the existing potentials in the Iranian pharmaceutical industry, says, "The Iranian pharmaceutical industry has the potential to soar in terms of knowledge and capacity and can be one of the country's strengths in generating foreign income." He believes that if there were no sanctions, the Iranian pharmaceutical industry could have grown more rapidly and achieved international standings.
Nevertheless, Abdeh Zadeh considers an 80 out of 100 score appropriate for the performance of the Iranian pharmaceutical industry in the past three years, stating, "Pharmaceutical companies did not wait for conditions to push them in one direction or another. Wherever part of the issue was beyond the control of an agency, the industry has tried to find another way to continue supply."
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