Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Public Administration, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
2
Pharmaceutical Sciences Research center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
3
Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Abstract
In recent decades, with the observation of the side effects of synthetic and chemical drugs, the tendency to use herbal medicines has increased, to the point that the 21st century has been called the century of herbal medicine. Due to the changing global approach to healthcare systems, the global market for herbal medicines has grown at a remarkable pace and is of great economic and commercial importance. The present study aimed to investigate the obstacles to the development of the industry and commercialization of herbal medicines in Iran and to provide strategies to overcome these obstacles. The research method was qualitative and used content analysis. The study population consisted of academic and industrial experts. The criterion for determining the sample size was the theoretical saturation rule, which was achieved in 13 interviews. The data collection tool was an in-depth semi-structured interview. The collected data were analyzed using open coding method and Braun and Clarke's six-step process. The validity, reliability, accuracy, and robustness of the research data were confirmed using Lincoln and Guba's four criteria. The reliability of the research was also confirmed using the Holsti test-retest reliability method. The research findings showed that the obstacles to the development of the herbal medicine industry in Iran include 140 basic themes, 27 organizing themes, and 9 overarching themes. Overarching themes include economic and investment barriers, legal and policy barriers, educational and cultural barriers, entrepreneurship and employability barriers, political barriers and sanctions, infrastructure and facilitation barriers, standardization barriers, quality control and safety barriers, environmental barriers, and marketing and sales barriers. The results of this research can help entrepreneurs, managers, and policymakers in the herbal medicine industry to make effective policies and remove obstacles to the development and commercialization of this industry.
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