Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.6/ Trend R.Zamanov
All the medicines stuck at the customs will be released by next week, head of Iran Customs Administration said on Tuesday.
"Some 180 tons of medicines have been released from the customs of Imam Khomeini International Airport so far," the Fars News Agency quoted Abbas Memarnejad as saying.
He went on to note that the fast releasing of stuck goods only applies to medicines and other items will be released after taking standard procedures.
Deputy Director of Iran Customs Administration Mohammadreza Naderi said on August 4 that the health ministry has requested the customs administration to facilitate medicines release.
The IRNA News Agency reported on August 4 that some 330 tons of medicine are stuck at the customs of Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Based on the new agreements half the mentioned figure is supposed to be released in near future.
Iran's Drug importing union chief, Nasser Riahi said on July 23 that some 60 to 70 million dollars worth of medicine are currently stuck in the customs.
The customs administration doesn't release the medicine, Riahi said, adding that the medicine may get expired.
"Money supply is currently the medicine-importing companies' main problem," he added.
Acting Chairman of the Majlis Health and Medicine Committee, Abdal Rahman Rostamian, said earlier this month that the shortage of medicines cannot be denied.
He further said that the storage of the medicines in customs is one of the important factors that are affecting the drug shortage.
He also added that action must be taken for the immediate release of medicines from customs, as the shortage of these drugs is leading to an unprecedented rise in prices.
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