The Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority (AFDA) said that more than 500 different types of medications are now produced in Afghanistan.

Addressing a program under the name of Government Accountability to the Nation, the head of the AFDA, Abdulbari Omar, said over fifty pharmaceutical firms are now in operation in the nation.

Omar further stressed that 30% of medicine is imported into the nation illegally and that efforts are being made to stop the illegal importation of drugs.

"The annually demand for medicine in the Afghan market is typically between 700 million and 1 billion dollars on average. Currently, 30% of drugs are smuggled into the nation and 70% of medicines are lawfully imported. We also have up to 550 medicines produced in the country, 15 of which are those whose importation is forbidden,” Omar remarked.

The AFDA officials added that they have granted permits to 10 firms that meet international standards during the last year.

Abdulbari Omar mentioned that they have granted permits to more than 2,200 pharmaceutical businesses around the country.

“In the previous year, 196 wholesalers, 156 import businesses, 10 factories, 142 branches of importing companies and manufacturing factories, and 1,844 technical officials received licenses to operate,” Omar said.

The AFDA officials highlighted that they granted import permits for 21,504 different types of medicines and health items last year.

"In the 1401 solar year, 19,500 medicines and health products were allowed to be sold on the market, and 21,504 spices and health products worth 65.258 million Afghanis were allowed to be imported," said Khalil Rahman Momand, head of the registration and distribution of health products.

"4,536 pharmacies were checked in the capital last year, and as a result, 771 pharmacies were blocked, 180 pharmacies received recommendations, and 126 pharmacies received warnings,” said Sayed Momin Khan Fadayee, Director of Supervision and Inspection at the AFDA.

The Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority (AFDA) further noted that last year they burned about 300 tons of low-quality and outdated drugs, and they will burn 50 tons of low-quality and outdated drugs.

Abdulbari Omar said food and health product testing laboratories are being built in four zones, including the nation's capital.