Revisiting the session “Exploring Challenges and Solutions for Online Medicine Distribution”
On the occasion of World Social Security Day, revisiting the session “Exploring Challenges and Solutions for Online Medicine Distribution” provided a fresh opportunity to reflect on the policy dilemmas of ensuring pharmaceutical justice in Iran’s digital ecosystem. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the inefficiency of the traditional distribution model and highlighted the urgent need for reform.
In recent weeks, KHANA hosted thinkers concerned with Iran’s internal challenges, particularly in health and medicine. Thus, a session titled “Exploring Challenges and Solutions for Online Medicine Distribution” was held, creating a platform where experts discussed the legal, technological, economic, and social dimensions of the issue and sought pathways forward.
The discussion underlined that the 2023 Ministry of Health bylaw, instead of setting clear technical standards, imposed complex licensing hurdles. Institutional overlaps between ministries and the absence of insurance organizations in the framework further deepened the problems. Technological challenges such as data protection gaps and cold-chain risks, along with social concerns like rising costs and declining public trust, were also highlighted.
Proposed solutions included revising the bylaw, defining the role of insurers, setting national standards for data protection and pharmaceutical supply chains, and piloting online distribution under strict smart supervision before nationwide rollout. The overall conclusion was clear: fair governance in medicine requires aligning digital innovation with transparent regulation and institutional synergy.
