Iran Self-Sufficient in Medicine in Next 3 Years

Date: 15 September 2019 - 22:18

News ID: ۷۰۵۰۲

TEHRAN (Dispatches) – Iran will achieve self-sufficiency and produce all the medicine it needs in three years’ time, Minister of Health and Medical Education Saeed Namaki said on Sunday.
Namaki said Iran now meets 97% of its domestic need for medicines, and intends to domestically produce all the drugs it needs by the next three years with the cooperation of some 1,200 knowledge-based companies.
"Collaboration with Asian countries, especially Indonesia, is very important for Iran, and we are prepared to expand our cooperation with this country,” said Namaki in a meeting with his Indonesia counterpart Nila Moeloek.
"Iran stands ready to work with Indonesia in the field of solvents’ industry, vaccination, health tourism, medical treatment, research and education,” said the Iranian health minister.
"We have 66 medical science universities which meet our educational needs, and we are ready to receive health tourists from Indonesia,” he said.
The Iranian minister touched upon the eradication of measles, malaria and tetanus in infants as well as efforts to uproot diseases which are common between humans and cattle.
He also referred to the conclusion of three agreements between Iran and Indonesia on health cooperation.
"We are ready to share experience and know-how with Indonesia in pharmaceutics, stem cell and organ transplant technologies,” said Iran’s health minister.
In the meeting, the two sides also signed a health action plan under which the two countries will work together in joint production of vaccines and medicines, public health, contagious and non-contagious diseases, emergency medical services and health management in times of natural disasters.
Another senior Iranian official said the country has a bright future in quantum physics as more research centers and labs are being built to encourage young Iranians to enter the field.
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said the country would open a first large laboratory dedicated to quantum physics in a year.
"Related experts and managers are working day and night to finish this job as soon as possible,” said Salehi while addressing a summer course on quantum sciences and technology in Tehran.
The official said Iran had compiled its own roadmap for development of quantum technologies, saying the document would come into force once it is ratified by the parliament and other related government bodies.
He said Iran was willing to keep its pace with a fast-growing quantum science in the world, saying expert groups had been formed in the AEOI to focus on various fields where quantum sciences are increasingly applied, including in communication, imaging, and in making new computers and sensors.
Salehi said his organization had also launched a public information campaign about quantum physics and its role in the future of the world, saying textbooks were being prepared for schools and universities with a special focus on quantum mechanics.
He said a successful entanglement experiment for photons carried out by AEOI scientists last summer had hugely boosted the morale in the field.
The senior official said that a large research center focused on new fields of science like the stem cells and quantum physics will be built by the AEOI in a near future.
Salehi said Iranian scientists could replicate the "quick” progress achieved in the field of nuclear technology in the country over the past years.
"The quantum technology is moving so fast that if we don’t act we’ll regret it,” said the official.