CBI Supplied $3.7b in Subsidized Forex for Pharmaceutical Imports

The Central Bank of Iran provided $3 billion in subsidized foreign currency at the rate of 42,000 rials per US dollar for the import of pharmaceuticals and other needs of the Health Ministry in the last fiscal year (March 2020-21).
The CBI also paid $770 million for such imports in the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 21-May 21), a report published on the bank’s website read.
According to a decision by the government’s Economic Headquarter, a total of $2.5 billion should have been provided for importing pharmaceuticals last year, but due to the conditions resulting from the outbreak of Covid-19, the figure exceeded $3 billion. 
A total of $1.5 billion in subsidized currency have been allocated for the import of pharmaceuticals in the first half of the current year (March 21-Sept. 22), $770 million or more than half of which have been paid in the first two months. 
Of the $770 million, $210 million have been spent on procuring vaccines and $560 million on other medical items.