The new regulation regarding the establishment of pharmacies has invited a wide array of criticism, as it allows a decrease in the number of active doctor’s offices required for the establishment of new pharmacies from 10 to 4.
The required distance between two pharmacies has also been reduced, IRNA reported on Tuesday.
Although some officials believe that the new regulation will help increase employment opportunities, others believe it will have dismal effects on both pharmacy gains and underdeveloped areas as new graduates will prefer to operate in more densely populated areas, which may already have an adequate number of pharmacies.
“The new regulation might lead to the bankruptcy of pharmacies, which in turn causes further complications,” said Pharmacist Khalilollah Khalesi, a member of Zanjan Medical Faculty Board.
