Serum rationed in Iranian pharmacies; shortages "even in operating rooms"

The vice president of the Iranian Pharmacists Association announced the "rationing" of serum in the country's pharmacies due to a shortage of this therapeutic product.

On Thursday, September 14, in an interview with ISNA News Agency, Ali Fatemi emphasized the necessity of importing the serum and said that due to shortages, the drug is currently only distributed in a number of "selected" and "government" pharmacies.

Mr. Fatemi went on to announce the daily production of 400 to 500 thousand bottles of serum in line with the country's needs, citing the current shortage as the increase in the number of seasonal and digestive diseases, and warned about the increased need following the return of "Arbaeen pilgrims."

The Vice President of the Pharmacists Association continued by emphasizing the "strategic drug reserves" and said that these reserves have reached zero during the two years of the coronavirus outbreak and are currently only available for the country's consumption.

In recent days, numerous reports have been published about the shortage of serum in Iranian hospitals and pharmacies. For example, the Jam Jam newspaper reported that in some medical centers, the cost of serum is charged separately from patients, and about three to four million tomans is added to the cost of the surgery as the cost of purchasing this drug from the open market.

Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi, the former head of the Medical System Organization, also tweeted on Tuesday, September 12, criticizing the shortage of serum and its rationing in most hospitals, saying: "There is no serum even for patients who need surgery."

In response to these reports, Bahram Darai, head of the Food and Drug Administration, denied the news of a serum shortage and told Fars News Agency: "This violation is happening in some private hospitals so that they can stockpile the available serum."

Hamidreza Inanlu, Director General of Drugs and Controlled Substances at the Food and Drug Administration, has also announced daily imports of serum and said that the current shortage will be resolved "within the next two weeks."

Criticism of the shortage of serum in the country's hospitals and pharmacies continues even though Health Minister Bahram Einollahi, during his remarks on September 10 regarding the favorable state of health services to "Arbaeen pilgrims," ​​said that there is enough serum.

Source: Radio Farda