OBJECTIVES

: The pharmaceutical industry (PI) is one of the most fundamental health domains which is deserved to specify an important share in high global competitive environment.This study aimed to address critical discussion on the challenges of the PI in Iran to clarify the road map of the best strategies of improving Iranian PI.

METHODS

: A comprehensive literature review was performed in 2018. Due to the spread of literature in this regard, two categories of them were considered in this study. First category was included main databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Magiran, Scientific Information Database and Google scholar. Second category was gray literature which they were two prestigious Farsi language journals in the field of pharmaceutics, Razi magazine and Darou Darman journal. These journals are the fundamental Iranian journals in this field. All categories, from 1997 to 2017,were searched to collect the scientific studies, interviews and comments in both Farsi and English languages related to the PI in Iran.

RESULTS

: A total of 291 documents including scientific articles, reports, and interviews were identified from different databases. Nevertheless only 100 documents were met our criteria for extracting the data. The challenges of PI were extracted, summarized, coded and categorized into 6 main groups, including financial, quality management system documentation, research and development, organizing, market research, and International relations. Financial challenges were the most frequent challenge reported and thus could be considered as one of the largest obstacles for PI in Iran. This challenge encompassed three sub-classes including delay in reimbursement, improper pricing methods, and deduction of financial incentives.

CONCLUSIONS

: PIs in Iran has encountered a range of challenges, which need serious consideration. Some groups of the challenges are originated directly from the industry policy and planning, some are attributable to the government policy and planning and some could be attributed to both; government and the industry.