Iran has a long medical history.
Before the advent of Islam in
Iran, Jondishapour Hospital was
established as a clinic and a
medical university where Greek
physicians and pharmacologists
gathered to offer their services,
after being driven out of Greece
by the Roman conquest of their
homeland. At Jondishapour, in
conjunction with Iranian medical
experts, they did much to cure
various diseases, made great
achievements in identifying
medical herbs and their
properties, and in classifying
them.
After Islam reached Iran,
Jondishapour was consolidated
and scholars from all over the
vast Moslem empire came to
this university, and medical
studies flourished in Iran until
Islam’s medical center was
moved to Baghdad by Abbasid
Caliphate (750-1100 AD).
Moslem physicians became
famous throughout the world.
For example, the medical
writings of such outstanding
scholars as Ibn Sina or
Avicenna, who was physician,
pharmacologist and philosopher,
were being taught in the West
down to less than two centuries
ago.
In the past 200 years the West
has made great advances in
medicine as indeed in all other
fields of knowledge. However,
developing countries are trying
hard to catch up and Iran has
been quite successful in these
efforts.
The medical profession and
the medicinal industry have
made staggering progress
in Iran, in the recent years.
Today, Iran produces all the
medicines the nation needs
and a good surplus which
the country exports. To know
more about such potentials
we had an exclusive interview
with Dr Hossein Bozorgnejad,
the managing director of Tede
Tejarat Co.
Events: Dr Bozorgnejad, what
is the role of Tede Tejarat and
its position in the Tede Group?
Dr Hossein Bozorgnejad: Tede
Tejarat handles the commercial
activities of Tede Group, as well
as the designing of projects and
planning processes towards
larger and better production. We
import the raw materials needed
by the production sectors,
and export their end products.
We have a large number of
experts that have come from
Iranian, European and American
universities who are constantly
engaged in research and
design. To produce medical
products of the highest quality
in line with international
standards of the day, we import
raw materials from the most
reputable establishments.
E: What are actually your export
capabilities?
HB: So far we have
concentrated our efforts on the
neighboring countries as well as
some African nations, notably
Nigeria, Uganda and Sudan. But
we are now seriously working
on the European market. The
joint venture by Tede, or Tolid
Daru Group and Merck gives
the necessary assurance to
European nations that this
Group can meet their standards,
at lower costs. Our cooperation
contract with Cetraco of France
is another assurance for the
European medicinal industries.
So far our export department,
headed by Dr. Alireza Razavi,
has been very successful in its
marketing efforts and I am sure
exports will expand rapidly.
E: Do you seek further
cooperation with Western
manufacturers, as joint
ventures, for example?
HB: Yes, indeed! We are open
to suggestions and have many
suggestions ourselves. And the
country gives many incentives
to foreign investors. But this is
something to discuss directly
with potential investors who
can contact us at any time.
The details would be out of the
scope of this non-specialized
interview. |
