Drug imports almost triple despite US blockades
Iran’s imports and final customs clearance of medicines almost tripled in the first five months of the current Persian calendar year, data from the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) showed.
According to a new IRICA report published by IRNA on August 17, medicine imports hit $960 million between March 21 and August 11, up 183% from the same period last year.
The IRICA said pharmaceutical products and other essential healthcare goods had been cleared “without a hitch” during the period and that the number of medicines held at customs “had fallen to zero.”
“Cross-government coordination between customs and the Health Ministry has helped speed up the clearance process, while emergency customs facilities approved by the government have allowed essential and pharmaceutical goods to keep moving through the country’s customs points,” the IRICA added.
The increase came as Iran faced a war with the United States and disruption to imports following two US naval blockades on Iranian ports and vessels.
The US imposed its first blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean in mid-April. It ended after more than two months following a temporary peace memorandum, but a second blockade, which is ongoing, was enforced in mid-July after the deal collapsed.
The customs office said close cooperation with Iran’s Food and Drug Administration, particularly in recent weeks, had helped ease and speed up the clearance of medicines and other essential healthcare products.
It said swift action by the IRICA had been particularly important when medicines, pharmaceutical raw materials, medical equipment and infant formula needed to be supplied quickly, helping prevent bottlenecks in the healthcare supply chain.
“Field inspections of pharmaceutical clearance operations showed a notable example of successful coordination among government agencies under difficult and challenging conditions,” IRICA said.