TEHRAN, Dec. 4 (MNA) Imports of medicine to Iran increased by 40 percent in the past Iranian calendar month of Aban (ended Nov. 21) compared to its preceding month, according to Irans Customs Administration.Some 1,540 tons of medicine were imported during the past month, compared to 1,100 tons two months ago.
Some $119 million worth of medicine were imported during the month of Aban, a 23 percent rise month on month.
On November 6, ISNA quoted the Syndicate of Iranian Pharmaceutical Importers chairman as saying that Iran has allocated $400 million to the importation of medicine.
Nasser Riahi added that the Central Bank of Iran has deposited the sum in seven banks of the country.
The figure could be increased to one billion dollars, he mentioned.
Irans Health Ministry official Hossein Ayati has said some 97 percent of Irans required medicine is currently produced domestically.
About 50 percent of necessary raw material for producing the medicine is imported, he added. Last year, some $1.7 billion was allocated to import medicine which is not produced inside the country, the official said.
In November 2012, Irans health ministry called the central bank to earmark $2 billion for importing medicine to cope with the domestic shortage as a result of the international sanctions.
By Mehr News Agency
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