Many Iranians are struggling to access or afford essential medications, while authorities maintain that the pharmaceutical sector will not collapse.
Tehran, Iran – Farah, a 59-year-old resident of Tehran, previously relied on a Swiss-made drug for her autoimmune condition but has switched to an Iranian-made alternative due to price and availability concerns. She expressed worries that this local version may also soon be in short supply.
Reports indicate increasing shortages of medications for serious illnesses, with approximately 800 pharmaceutical products currently in short supply across the nation, including 90 deemed essential and life-saving, according to Hadi Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Iranian Pharmacists Association. He noted that 400 of these drugs are manufactured domestically.
The state-run Mehr News Agency reported a significant rise in prices for various medications over the past year, including a 220 percent increase for gabapentin, 375 percent for acetaminophen, 285 percent for amoxicillin, and 100 percent for fluoxetine. Insulin prices have reportedly increased up to six times compared to a year ago.
These price hikes are part of a broader inflationary trend in Iran, which has one of the highest inflation rates globally. As of August, essential food items have risen more than 123 percent year-on-year, with staples like cooking oil tripling in price.
Iran has aimed for self-sufficiency in medicine for years, developing domestic manufacturing capabilities for active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished drugs. However, the sector still depends heavily on imports for critical components and medications.
The US sanctions, part of a long-term “maximum pressure” campaign, have disrupted the financial and logistical networks necessary for medical imports, leading to increased costs despite humanitarian exemptions.
The situation has deteriorated since the onset of the US and Israel's military actions against Iran in February, which have damaged or destroyed around 44 pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies, resulting in casualties among industry workers.
Tofigh Daru, one of the pharmaceutical firms targeted, has reported extensive damage to its research and production facilities. Maryam Farahani, the company's director of sales, stated that Israeli air strikes have impacted all production lines, including those for anticancer drugs.
Farahani mentioned that the company has rented an alternate production line to maintain output, despite the challenges posed by the US blockade and sanctions. She estimated that rebuilding efforts would take at least two years and require substantial financial resources.
The Israeli military claimed that Tofigh Daru was targeted due to its alleged role in supplying fentanyl for military purposes, a claim the company disputes, asserting that it only produces the drug for approved medical uses.
Despite the worsening conditions, Iranian authorities assert that the pharmaceutical industry is resilient. Mahdi Pirsalehi, head of Iran’s Food and Drug Administration, stated that the country is experiencing fewer drug shortages than the previous year, although he did not provide supporting data.
Concerns about public health are growing among doctors in Tehran, particularly regarding the availability of vaccines. A gastroenterologist expressed alarm over the rising prices of medications, which have become unaffordable for many vulnerable Iranians.
She highlighted the government's removal of subsidized foreign currency for medical imports and significant debts owed by insurers to pharmacies, estimated at around 8 quadrillion rials ($3.56 billion), as contributing factors to the crisis.
The doctor warned that halted imports of vaccines, including for rotavirus and influenza, could pose serious threats to public health and efforts to prevent communicable diseases. She also noted the risk of malnutrition among vulnerable populations due to rising inflation and inadequate access to essential food items, which could exacerbate health issues.
SOURCE: Al Jazeera English PUBLISHED: 2026-09-09 07:14:12