Policy Analysis Of Iranian Pharmaceutical Sector; A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction

Improving public health through providing affordable and accessible pharmaceuticals is among the concerns of governments worldwide. This study aimed to analyze Iran’s pharmaceutical sector policies in order to identify the challenges and suggest some strategic solutions to overcome such challenges.

Methods

Top managers (15), middle managers (10), and operational managers (5) working in the Food and Drug Administration of Iranian Ministry of Health along with community pharmacists (5) participated in a qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed via MAXQDA 10 software.

Results

Policies for national pharmaceutical sector were divided into four groups of “research & development”, “import & export”, “pharmaceutical procurement”, and “pharmaceutical supply and distribution”. Then, the challenges faced by each sector were extracted. Considering the challenges, some policy options were recommended for growth and development of national pharmaceutical sector.

Conclusion

Iran’s pharmaceutical sector has managerial and administrative differences compared with overseas pharmaceutical sectors. These differences are the main reasons for the current status of Iran’s pharmaceutical sector and have put Iran behind foreign pharmaceutical sectors. Iran’s pharmaceutical sector has endured many critical periods during recent decades and has gained great experience during these stages. Therefore, it is believed that Iran’s pharmaceutical sector, with its experience and potential, is capable of producing world-level medicines.

Keywords:

• pharmaceutical policy-making
• research & development
• qualitative study
• supportive policy
• Iran

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank all participants who sincerely helped us through doing this research.

Abbreviations

WTO, world trade organization; R&D, research and development; GMP, good manufacturing practice.

Ethics Statement

All information was anonymously obtained from participants, and they were fully assured that their personal information would remain confidential and data would be used for research purposes only. Informed verbal consent was obtained from all participants. The study was reviewed and approved by ethics research committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Iran.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.