Medicine shortages grow in Iran as US tightens sanctions, blockade | US-Israel war on Iran News
Tehran, Iran — Farah, a 59-year-old resident of Tehran, has transitioned from using a Swiss-manufactured drug for her autoimmune condition to an Iranian version due to concerns over price and availability. She expressed apprehension regarding potential shortages of the domestically produced medication.
“I switched to the Iranian-made version because of the price and availability,” she told Al Jazeera. “You might not find the foreign-made version later, and you can’t keep switching because they don’t have the same quality and effectiveness.”
Recent reports from Iranian news outlets indicate increasing shortages of essential medications for cancer and other serious conditions, exacerbated by a crisis in the country’s pharmaceutical sector. This situation has emerged as U.S. military pressures, sanctions, and a naval blockade continue to impact Iran’s economy.
According to Hadi Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Iranian Pharmacists Association, approximately 800 pharmaceutical products are currently in limited supply, including 90 that are deemed essential for life-saving treatments. Of these, about 400 are produced within Iran.
The cost of these medications has surged sharply over the past year. The state-run Mehr News Agency reported that the price of gabapentin, used for treating epilepsy and nerve pain, has increased by 220 percent. Increases in the prices of other essential medications have also been substantial: acetaminophen has risen by 375 percent, amoxicillin by 285 percent, fluoxetine by 100 percent, and the cost of insulin—a critical requirement for diabetics—has escalated to six times its previous price.
These price hikes are part of a broader trend of inflation affecting Iran. As of August, the country’s inflation rate is among the highest globally, with essential food items rising over 123 percent year-on-year and staples such as cooking oil more than tripling in price.
Iran has long aimed for self-sufficiency in medicine and other sectors, developing its domestic capacity to manufacture pharmaceutical ingredients, equipment, and finished products. However, the industry remains largely dependent on imports for crucial components and specialized medications.
The prolonged U.S. sanctions have hampered financial and logistical channels necessary for acquiring medical imports, leading to inflated costs despite humanitarian exemptions.
The situation has grown more dire since the onset of conflict involving the U.S. and Israel, following attacks that have damaged or destroyed around 44 pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies. Reports indicate that approximately 50 industry workers were killed or harmed in these attacks.
Among the companies affected is Tofigh Daru, owned by Iran’s largest pension fund. Maryam Farahani, the firm’s sales director, detailed that Israeli airstrikes targeted all of its research and production lines, impacting the output of peptide ingredients and anticancer drugs.
“Our target audience are predominantly cancer patients and people with chronic diseases,” Farahani stated. “Some of the medicine we used to produce were exclusive.”
To remain operational, the company has had to rent an alternate production line, though costs have escalated due to the U.S. naval blockade affecting shipping and transportation routes.
Farahani noted that the airstrikes obliterated significant data, server sites, and specialized equipment accumulated over the past 26 years. She estimated that rebuilding efforts would require substantial financial investment and time.
In response to the allegations regarding Tofigh Daru’s involvement in military research, the company has clarified that it only produced fentanyl in small amounts for legitimate medical applications, such as surgical anesthesia. The firm also manufactured glatiramer acetate, a treatment for multiple sclerosis, previously supplied by the Israeli company Teva.
Despite the troubling trends, Iranian authorities are striving to project an image of resilience. Mahdi Pirsalehi, head of Iran’s Food and Drug Administration, asserted that the pharmaceutical industry has not collapsed under pressure.
“Last year, we faced fewer drug shortages,” he claimed at the launch of a pharmaceutical exhibition in Tehran. However, he provided no specific data to substantiate this claim.
Medical professionals in Tehran express growing concerns over the implications of these drug shortages for public health. One gastroenterologist, who requested anonymity, described the surge in medication prices as “staggering,” noting it has created significant barriers for vulnerable populations.
She highlighted the government’s decision to gradually phase out subsidized foreign currency for medical imports and extensive debts owed by insurers to pharmacies, estimated at 8 quadrillion rials (approximately $3.56 billion).
“The halt of rotavirus vaccine imports due to the maritime blockade poses a serious risk to national health efforts,” she stated, warning of the potential impact on vulnerable groups such as infants, children, and expectant mothers.
The overall situation raises concerns about malnutrition and related health risks, creating a cycle that could exacerbate both communicable and non-communicable diseases in the population.
