Iran aims to bolster its health diplomacy
First stop: Tajikistan
Iran’s Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education underscored the importance of leveraging Iran’s domestic capacity in the production of medicine and medical equipment on Sunday and highlighted the potential for strengthened health diplomacy and tourism, as well as the creation of a pharmaceutical market in Tajikistan.
Bahram Einollahi hailed the cultural and linguistic ties between Iran and Tajikistan, stating that his ongoing visit to the central Asian nation is driven by several key health-related objectives, according to IRNA. The establishment of a pharmaceutical market for Iran in Tajikistan is one of the key objectives.
“Iran has met more than 98 percent of its pharmaceutical needs by utilizing its domestic capacity,” the minister said, adding, “This capacity can create a favorable market for Iran’s pharmaceutical industry in the countries of the region.”
Einollahi described his two-day trip to Tajikistan as a strategic move to bolster health diplomacy. The visit will focus on exporting medical and pharmaceutical equipment, which, in turn, strengthens the capacity of knowledge-based companies active in the production and development of medical equipment in Iran’s market. Doing a tour of Tajikistan’s medical and academic centers is another goal of this trip.
The health official also emphasized the potential that the shared language between Iran and Tajikistan holds for expanding health tourism. “Plans are underway to select and send Iranian health advisors to friendly countries as soon as possible,” he said.
“Tajikistan will be one of the first countries where we will establish the post of health advisor with the aim of developing the market for health-oriented products as well as health tourism.”