Enhancing Pharmaceutical Coordination Between the MPO and the FDA to Strengthen National Preparedness

According to the Public Relations and International Affairs Unit of the Medical Procurement Organization, a specialized meeting was held on Monday, October 6, 2025, with the participation of Dr. Mohammadreza Shanehsaz, Managing Director of the Medical Procurement Organization, and Dr. Mina Azough, Head of the Pharmacy Department at the Food and Drug Administration, along with senior managers from both organizations. The session aimed to enhance inter-agency coordination in the procurement, storage, and distribution of the country’s vital medicines.

During the meeting, it was decided that the Food and Drug Administration would finalize the operational guidelines for the storage of strategic medicines and provide the corresponding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to the Medical Procurement Organization for implementation. A proposal was also made to establish a joint task force comprising representatives from Soha Helal Distribution Company, the Food and Drug Administration, and selected provinces to facilitate the release of medicines from warehouses during emergencies.

The Medical Procurement Organization expressed its readiness to store essential medicines for crisis response in addition to strategic pharmaceuticals. It also presented a report on the status of single-prescription medicines and the challenges faced by importers in obtaining pharmaceutical licenses. These issues were conveyed to the Food and Drug Administration for appropriate action to remove existing barriers.

Furthermore, it was proposed that pharmacies affiliated with the Medical Procurement Organization—given their specialized capacities and central role in supplying essential medicines—be considered in the allocation of pharmaceutical quotas in a targeted manner aligned with their missions. This approach could improve patient access to specialized medicines and enhance the efficiency of the national drug distribution network.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of issuing licenses for the supply of specialized medicines, including blood factors and enzymes, to selected pharmacies under the Medical Procurement Organization, to ensure faster and more accurate responses to the needs of patients with rare conditions.

This session was part of a series of strategic meetings among key health sector institutions, reflecting a strong commitment to strengthening pharmaceutical infrastructure, increasing preparedness for crisis situations, and improving access to essential and specialized medicines for patients across the country.