An Iranian pharmaceutical company has started supplying coronavirus test kits amid a reported shortage for the much-needed diagnostics for a pathogen that has set off a global pandemic.

Vahid Yunessi, the business manager at Pishtaz Teb, said that the firm had distributed 10,000 coronavirus test kits to a total of 100 labs across Iran earlier in the day.

Yunessi said that supply to the labs began after his company obtained certificates for the kits from the Iranian Health Ministry.

He said his company was capable of producing 80,000 coronavirus test kits per week to help authorities meet a reported shortfall of diagnostic capabilities that could affect nationwide efforts to curb the spread of the outbreak.

Iran has confirmed nearly 25,000 cases of coronavirus since the infection was spotted in the country on February 19. 

Nearly 9,000 people have recovered and around 2,000 have died of the virus, according to the latest figures provided by the Health Ministry. 

Officials believe cases could surge in the coming weeks if more tests are carried out especially in remote areas where access to health care is low. 

However, more testing could also boost efforts to prevent more deaths, especially among the elderly and those suffering from underlying conditions. 

Several other biotechnology firms in Iran have developed testing kits for coronavirus amid restrictions on the imports of the diagnostic tools which has come as a result of the American sanctions.

The government has said it would exhaust all its resources to ensure there would be sufficient protective gear and vital equipment to respond to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/03/24/621533/www.presstv.tv

We need this sanction too so our government can focus on local productions .

I think the Iranian government are lying about the death toll, it might be far above official figures published, a welcome development thou, they never let sanctions limit them in the fight against COVID-19.

Our indigenous firms should also see how to improve on local production, we need to have more test kits to ascertain the true numbers of those infected by the virus, we can not continue to depend on others for basic medical supplies.

Mutemenot:
We need this sanction too so our government can focus on local productions .

Sanction is not something one should wish for, it's crippling, as much as it forces one to be self-sufficient, it comes with a lot of negative impact on the common man.

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44, seun

With the way things are going for the US, these sanctions may soon become useless.

Good.
I think it’s about time we started having these type of firms here in multiples. It’s a good avenue to invest actually.

Nice development. Grab them by the balls!

Great....
They must survive irrespective of Sanctions

Akunwafor:
With the way things are going for the US, these sanctions may soon become useless.

Politically, it hasn't achieved anything, economically, it has a lot of negative impact on the citizens. Overall, sanctions isn't the only solution to resolve conflicts, not everyone will bow to you regardless of your strength, there should always be room for dialogue.

Sheuns:
Good.
I think it’s about time we started having these type of firms here in multiples. It’s a good avenue to invest actually.

Our leaders don't think na

Akunwafor:
With the way things are going for the US, these sanctions may soon become useless.

Sanction is a useless tool that America uses to bully nations she sees as threat to its interest but from what we have seen over the years the common people are the ones who suffer from the effect. Sanctions haven't achieved much for America politically.

Iran, Cuba, Venezuela. America has failed in its effort to effect regime change in these countries through sanctions.