Amid Drug Shortage in Iranian Pharmacies, Allocation Tied to 'Hijab Norms'

Even as pharmacies in Iran face a critical drug shortage, leaving citizens struggling to access essential medications, Iran's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) head has linked the allocation of drug quotas to "observance of hijab and norms."

According to the FDA head Heydar Mohammadi, pharmacies that fail to heed warnings regarding the mandatory hijab for both employees and customers will face punitive measures, including reduced drug quotas.

These remarks came as Health Minister Bahram Einollahi claimed to have resolved the drug shortage issue.

On Wednesday, Einollahi criticized the growing preference for imported drugs and asserted that the ministry's policy is to support domestic companies to address the drug shortage.

According to reports from citizens and social media posts, disruptions in the drug distribution chain have caused significant challenges for both pharmacies and manufacturers. 

Since late 2023, news has emerged about the closure of several pharmacies.

In December 2023, Shahram Kelantari, the head of the Pharmacists Association, described the drug situation in Iran as dire. he said that 40 percent of pharmacies were on the brink of bankruptcy due to the difficulties in procuring drugs and securing cash flow.

Now, the FDA head has attributed part of the drug supply problems to the pharmacists' non-compliance with hijab regulations, emphasizing that failure to heed warnings regarding hijab will affect the pharmacy's drug allocation.

In March, the FDA issued guidelines on the dress code for pharmacy staff. The guidelines mandate black headscarves for female employees, including technical directors and other staff.

This directive followed warnings and closures issued to pharmacies in various Iranian cities for non-compliance with mandatory hijab by their employees.