find a handful of local producers for basic medical equipment, making it very hard to penetrate into the Iranian market for similar imported ones. Iran MED and Iran LAB are the main annual exhibitions relating to medical and laboratory equipment in Tehran. In 2009, approximately $3.1 billion worth of drugs and medical products were consumed in Iran. This shows an 80% increase from 3 years ago. Iran's per capita consumption is $21, as opposed to the global average of $94 because Iran subsidizes heavily its medical and pharmaceutical industry. In 2009, Iran exported $74 million worth of "medical products" to countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Russia. U.S. sanctions against Iran do not apply to medical equipment or pharmaceuticals but the purchase of foreign pharmaceutical products and diagnostics have been greatly hampered since the unilateral retraction of the nuclear deal and the reintroduction of strict financial sanctions by the Trump administration, thereby greatly exacerbating health problems in Iran, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. There are over 100 Iranian companies representing the international suppliers in this market, handling both promotion and the after-sales service of the products. Iran is a mature market when it comes to medical equipment. Most of the major international players in this sector are present in the Iran market. See also Family planning in Iran List of hospitals in Iran Medicine in Iran References External links Ministry of Health and Medical Education - Iran World Health Organization - Iran (statistics) WHO/Country Profile - Iran Iran