Iran's Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi at a ceremony to unveil several domestically-produced medicines in Tehran, February 14, 2015.[/caption]Iran plans to raise its exports of life-saving drugs to USD 1500 million in a decade's time, the health minister tells Press TV.
According to our long-term plans, we should be able to increase our exports to 1500 million dollars in the next ten years, Iran's Health MinisterHassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi told PressTV on Saturday in a ceremony in the Iranian capital, Tehran, where a number of home-made drugs were unveiled.
The truth is that pharmaceutical companies have taken great steps and now we should not limit ourselves to the domestic market, the minister added.
Some 20 domestically-made drugs, considered vital for patients suffering from such diseases as MS, cancer, and diabetes, were unveiled during the Saturday ceremony.
Iran has managed to produce some of the drugs whose imports have been restricted due to sanctions, Press TV reports, adding treatment costs will also be slashed by one-tenth.
The version of a drug for lung cancer treatment that we produce, costs one fourth the original brand. The same goes for other drugs that we produce in Iran. Some cancer drugs cost one tenth of the original price, Muhammad Abdeh Zadeh, general manager of the Osvah Pharmaceutical Company, told Press TV.
While under US-led sanctions, Iran today even exports drugs to its neighboring countries as well as India and china, Press TV reports.
By Press TV
