Iran plans to build SEZ for high-tech medicines production
By Sara Rajabova
Iran is set to build a special economic zone for production of high-tech medicines for refractory diseases.
Director for Special Zone Affairs of the Center for Free and Special Economic Zones' (CFSEZ) Ja'far Ahangaran said Iran plans to establish its first special economic zone for production of high-tech medicines for refractory diseases, Press TV reported.
"Recently, a plan for the establishment of a special economic zone dubbed 'Barekat (Blessing)' has been passed by CFSEZ. It is aimed to produce high-tech medicines for patients with refractory diseases, including cancer," Ahangaran said.
He said the proposal must now go to the parliament for final approval, adding that the special zone will be situated near the Iranian capital city Tehran.
In April, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued a directive to the heads of Iran's Executive, Judiciary and Legislative branches and the Expediency Council, calling for more efforts to turn the country into a medical hub in the Muslim world and Southwest Asia.
He called for adopting state-of-the-art medical and health plans, reducing the threats to public wellbeing and promoting the health standards.
The outlined policies also include the allocation of subsidies to the health sector and providing special financial aid to the needy.
"By establishing this zone, customs restrictions and duties for imports of raw materials and machinery will be lifted," Ahangaran noted.
He said although Iran is mainly self-sufficient in the production of its required medicines, nearly 80 percent of the foreign currency allocated for imports of some drugs is currently spent for the purchase of a few high-tech medical items.
Iran has made significant achievements in the health sector in recent years despite unilateral sanctions imposed on the country over its nuclear energy program.
According to 2014 statistics released by several international scientific centers, Iran ranks 18th in terms of scientific production in medicine in the world.
Earlier, Director of the Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC) for Pharmaceutical Industries Commercialization, Hossein Shakki said at present, four nano drugs are being produced and presented to the market in Iran.
Shakki said the drugs produced in Iran enjoy higher quality compared with the foreign drugs at a price one-fourth of their rival foreign products.
He added that the anti-cancer nano drugs are now used in Iran for the treatment of breast and prostate cancers.
Iranian scientists in January 2013 developed the country's first anti-cancer drug using nanotechnology. Earlier, Iranian researchers from Lorestan University succeeded in designing a new type of drug delivery system for anti-cancer drugs by using linear dendritic polymers and iron nanoparticles.
Iran is among the very few countries which have developed a remedy for the most fearsome disease in the human community, known as AIDS. In 2007, Iranian scientists found a safe and effective cure for the dreaded virus, AIDS. This medicine made up of herbal and chemical components works to build immunity and enhance the quality of life of both AIDS and HIV-positive patients with no proven side effects.