Iran’s medicine production growing

Iran’s Health Minister Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi says anti-Iran sanctions are the driving force behind the country’s progress in the pharmaceutical industry.

“Presently 96% of the medicinal need of Iranians is produced in the country and the main reason behind Iran’s progress in the pharmaceutical industry is Western sanctions,” Vahid-Dastjerdi said in a Sunday meeting with her Lebanese counterpart Mohamad Jawad Khalifeh.

“Many pharmaceutical companies in the world have formed international drug cartels…unfortunately individuals with quasi-Zionist mannerism head many of these firms,” the Iranian health minister told Fars News Agency.

Vahid-Dastjerdi said working with other Muslim countries such as Lebanon could increase bilateral capabilities to “export medication not only to the region but also [other countries] in the world.”

Khalifeh for his part proposed working with Syria and Iran on producing, patenting and exporting medication.”

“Advanced labs for quality control and marketing are being opened in Lebanon and Iran is welcome to use this successful experience [as an example] in order to increase its regional export [rate],” the Lebanese minister added.