TEHRAN –A delegation headed by deputy health minister Alireza Raeisi participated in the 14th Meeting of Ministers of Health in Moscow on October 10 –11. The participants discussed ways for enhancing cooperation in the field of health and treatment, utilizing new medical technologies, developing industries associated with production of advanced medical equipment, and improving the quality of education in health sector, IRNA reported.

The event also focused on the challenges and threats facing healthcare in BRICS, as well as the outlook for cooperation in new areas such as nuclear medicine, combatting antimicrobial resistance, and public health.

The establishment of a BRICS Medical Journal and BRICS Medical Association, the creation of an Integrated Early Warning System for Preventing the Risk of Mass Infectious Diseases in BRICS, the BRICS Tuberculosis Research Network and BRICS Vaccine Centre, and regulatory cooperation were among other main topics discussed.

During the meeting, Russian health minister Mikhail Murashko said that the main objective of the meeting is to bolster physical and mental health in BRICS member states through enhancement of intra-BRICS cooperation.

The official emphasized that Russia supports the joint production of medicines and the establishment of early warning systems for diseases in the BRICS member states.

Addressing the meeting, Raeisi highlighted Iran’s commitment to promote global health and expand cooperation with BRICS member states. 

With the slogan ‘health for all’, Iran has always underscored fair access to medical services for everyone throughout the country, particularly in remote areas, Raeisi noted.

The official went on to propose collaboration in the field of health and treatment research, as well as fair access to medicine and vaccine globally. 

The meeting ended with adoption of a joint declaration. On the sidelines of the event, Raeisi held a meeting with his Russian counterpart.

The officials explored avenues for boosting cooperation in health sector including medical and pharmaceutical fields.

Health cooperation with SCO, BRICS

The fourth coordination and consensus meeting of the special working group for boosting cooperation with the BRICS and SCO was held on August 17 in Tehran, the health ministry website reported.

During the meeting, Mohammad-Amir Amirkhani, the deputy director of the health ministry's department for international affairs, said the health ministry is planning to strengthen collaborations with the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS intergovernmental organization.

Knowledge-based companies manufacturing medications

Some 600 medical equipment companies are active in the country, producing around 99 percent of the medicine supplied to the domestic market. Medical equipment manufacturers in the country produce and supply over 10,000 types of medical equipment to domestic and foreign markets. Now, various pieces of laboratory equipment are manufactured at prices much lower than the same foreign products.

Iranian knowledge-based companies have succeeded in producing recombinant drugs which are mainly used for treating hard-to-treat diseases such as cancers, MS, hemophilia, and viral diseases.

Medical equipment worth around $20 million is exported to more than 60 countries annually, according to Iran’s Union of Medical Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters.

More than 70 percent of medical equipment and 100 percent of normal hospital beds are domestically made.

Also, over 95 percent of specific ICU and CCU beds and more than 85 percent of operating room medical equipment such as anesthesia machines and other equipment are manufactured with cutting-edge technology in the country.

Increase in export 

In the first half of the current Iranian year that started on March 20, the country has exported medicines worth $104.6 million, an increase of 19.7 percent year on year.

The exports amounted to 49,400 tons in volume, showing 15 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Customs Administration.

Some 345 companies have been involved in producing medicines, supplements, and raw materials, as well as importing pharmaceuticals in the six-month period of time.

Pharmaceutical companies have imported a total of 54,800 tons of commodities worth 1.1 billion dollars, indicating a 3.76 percent decrease in amount and 4.5 percent increase in terms of value compared to the same period last year, IRNA reported.

MT/MG