Improving the Quality of Iranian Pharmaceuticals and the Key Influencing Factors

In an interview, Dr. Fatemeh Bakhshi, CEO of Pak Salamat Tamin, discussed the key factors influencing the quality of pharmaceuticals in Iran.

Speaking to Pharmondays, she emphasized that ensuring drug quality depends on a set of critical elements, including manufacturing under GMP standards, the purity of active ingredients, appropriate packaging, and maintaining proper environmental conditions—such as temperature, humidity, and light—throughout storage and transportation. She also highlighted the importance of continuous quality control testing, supervision, and auditing during the production cycle and throughout the product’s shelf life.

Dr. Bakhshi further noted that the active presence of international brands or collaboration with them—whether through imports, licensed production, or joint ventures—serves as a powerful driver for enhancing the quality of domestic pharmaceutical products. Such collaborations promote alignment with global standards, foster a healthy competitive market, and ultimately improve public health.

She identified three main aspects of this process: technology and standards transfer, enhanced competition and market expectations, and upgrading manufacturing standards.

According to Dr. Bakhshi, in countries with less strict price controls, pharmaceutical companies have stronger incentives to produce higher-quality drugs, and the price difference based on quality becomes more noticeable.

She also highlighted the role of PMQC in improving the national pharmaceutical quality control system through training, strengthening quality control practices, conducting field tests, regular audits, and supporting the development of GMP standards in manufacturing facilities.

The CEO of Pak Salamat Tamin pointed out several regulatory approaches that could further support quality-focused manufacturers: Faster licensing procedures, improved market access, or tax exemptions for companies committed to high-quality standards; reducing bureaucracy, protecting intellectual property rights, and creating a fair pricing environment; effective monitoring to prevent the circulation of substandard products and removing non-compliant manufacturers; and facilitating collaboration with international scientific bodies to transfer technology and quality expertise.