TEHRAN –Iranian and Armenian health officials have discussed ways to expand joint activities in areas related to medicine as well as medical equipment.

The head of the Food and Drug Administration, Heidar Mohammadi, and the Armenian deputy health minister Artak Jumayan, held a meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, IRNA reported.

As an important step towards strengthening interactions, the two countries exchanged their lists of essential medicines and medical equipment.

Also, the Armenian Ministry of Health agreed to facilitate Iran’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and streamline the process for registering Iranian medicine and medical equipment.

Armenia welcomes Iran-made pharmaceutical products

In February, the Armenian deputy health minister announced the country’s willingness to import Iranian medicine and medical equipment.

Talking about the remarkable achievements of Iran in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak by adopting appropriate measures, Lena Nanushyan said that Iran's progress in the field of health is significant, ISNA reported.

She made the remarks in a meeting with  Mohammadi,  on the sidelines of the 18th session of the Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Committee that was held in Tehran during February 14-15.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides signed 19 documents and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to enhance cooperation in various areas.

The mentioned documents covered a variety of areas including trade, maritime transportation, food, medicine, and customs cooperation.

Noting that Iranian pharmaceutical products are famous worldwide, she said that Armenia has yet to import the products, she added.

Referring to the quality of anti-cancer drugs manufactured in Iran, she said, “We are interested in using Iranian oncology drugs in Armenia, and it is also possible to supply part of the required drugs of the country from Iranian manufacturing companies.”

Nanushyan went on to say, “We are happy to sign an agreement to expand cooperation between the two countries in the field of medicine and medical equipment.”

She further noted once Iranian medicines are registered in Eurasia, it will be much easier to import medicines from Iran.

Nanushyan also voiced the country's readiness to hold an exhibition of Iranian-made medical products in Armenia.

Mohammadi, for his part, referred to the production of biotech medicines, which has few manufacturers worldwide, in the country as a competitive factor of Iran-made medicines.

The pharmaceutical industry in Iran has grown significantly after the (1979) Islamic Revolution, he said.

Mohammadi went on to say that currently, all medical supplements and some 99 percent of the country's pharmaceutical needs are produced domestically.

Also, over 50 percent of medical equipment is produced in the country and they are exported to foreign markets, he added.

MT/MG