Iranian drug prices soar as U.S. blockade and sanctions choke supply
Medication costs in Iran have surged dramatically, with some drugs tripling in price, as U.S. sanctions and a naval blockade disrupt imports.
Iran's drug market is under severe pressure as a U.S. naval blockade and escalating sanctions have limited the flow of imported raw materials and finished medicines. Importers now rely on expensive air routes, a process further hampered by recent sanctions on Iranian airlines. Consequently, prices for many treatments have risen dramatically, with some medicines tripling or even quadrupling in cost, deepening the financial burden on patients.
While hospitals have not faced widespread stockouts, pharmacies report gaps in inventory and delayed reimbursements from insurers, which owe roughly $270 million. The situation is compounded by damaged pharmaceutical factories from airstrikes and smuggling of drugs to neighboring countries. Patients with chronic conditions, such as a 12-year-old with stomach issues or cancer patients awaiting chemotherapy, face delayed or unavailable treatments.
Why it matters
Rising drug costs and shortages threaten public health in Iran amid economic hardship.
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