Sixteen knowledge-based and technological products in the health sector including medical equipment and machinery were unveiled at a ceremony attended by Iran’s Vice-President for Science and Technology Rouhollah Dehqani and the head of Iranian Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Iran’s deputy minister of industry, mine and trade for industries affairs put the number of companies manufacturing medical equipment and machinery at 1,100.

EghtesadOnline: A truckload of drugs and medical equipment has been seized by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration at Lotfabad Customs Terminal located in Khorasan Razavi Province before being smuggled to Turkmenistan.

EghtesadOnline: Import order registration for $1.96 billion worth of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment has been made from March 20 to Sept. 5, indicating a 9% decline compared with the corresponding period of last year, the head of Iran Food and Drug Administration said.

EghtesadOnline: OPEC Fund for International Development has approved $500,000 in emergency grant to purchase and distribute medical equipment needed for combating COVID-19 in Iran.

EghtesadOnline: The Iranian Cabinet permitted, in its Sept. 5 session, the import of medical equipment that have locally-manufactured counterparts due to the special condition of the country.

EghtesadOnline: The Central Bank of Iran has made available $4 billion in foreign currency to importers of medicine and medical equipment in the last ten months.

EghtesadOnline: The Iranian government’s policy of granting subsidized foreign currency at the rate of 42,000 rials per US dollar to import pharmaceuticals and medical equipment is distorting the economic process and its furtherance will prove counterproductive, as it will impede the development of the industry.