TEHRAN – Eleven Iranian pharmaceutical manufacturing companies have made significant progress in introducing their products to markets in East Africa.
With the support of the Iran House of Innovation and Technology (iHiT) in Kenya and the backing of the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, 13 production lines in 11 pharmaceutical companies were inspected by the Kenyan Ministry of Health and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificates were issued, IRIB reported.
This move strengthens Iran’s pharmaceutical industry’s status in the region.
In January 2021, Iran established its house of innovation and technology in Kenya, the first center in Africa, which serves as a base for the creation of innovative ideas, the commercialization of these ideas, and the export of Iranian knowledge-based products and services to the East African market.
Africa welcomes Iranian medical equipment, medicine
On December 19, the deputy health minister of Libya held talks with the head of the Food and Drug Administration of Iran, discussing ways to collaborate on producing medical and pharmaceutical products.
At the meeting, the officials also agreed on sharing experiences in research, education, blood transfusion, emergency services, and technology.
The Libyan official expressed interest in benefiting from Iran’s experience and knowledge in pharmaceutical production, medical equipment, and research.
Heidar Mohammadi, Mohammadi, stated that Iran has achieved self-sufficiency in producing 99 percent of medicines, medical equipment, food products, cosmetics, and powdered milks.
Mohammad Hossein Niknam, the deputy health minister for international cooperation, expressed Iran’s readiness to expand collaboration with Libya in the health sector.
Iranian knowledge-based companies signed contracts to export medical equipment and medicine to Africa in July, capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the African market.
During his visit to Kenya and Uganda, President Raisi emphasized the need to bolster technological cooperation between Iran and African countries.
Health Minister Bahram Einollahi stated that Iran has one of the strongest health systems in the region and emphasized the need to utilize this opportunity optimally in the field of health diplomacy in September 2022.
Based on innovative indicators of health technology development in 2021, Iran was ranked 60th among 132 countries, showing a significant improvement compared to 2014.
The national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year 1402 has substantially increased the health sector’s budget by 29 percent compared to the current year’s budget.
The bill proposes a budget of 2,730 trillion rials for the Ministry of Health and 690 trillion rials for subsidies to provide medicine by health industries.
MT/MG