Full Breakdown
Iran’s Pharmaceutical Crisis Deepens Amid War, Sanctions and Blockade
By Drooid · · How we work
Escalating Shortages and Price Surges
Iran’s drug market faces a shortage of roughly 800 products, including about 90 essential medicines. Hadi Ahmadi, spokesperson for the Iranian Pharmacists Association, says only around 400 of the scarce medicines are produced domestically, highlighting reliance on imported raw materials. The war that began in February has damaged or destroyed 44 pharmaceutical and medical-equipment companies, and about 50 industry workers have been killed or wounded.
Prices have surged. State-run Mehr News Agency reports gabapentin up 220 % over the past year, paracetamol 375 %, amoxicillin 285 %, fluoxetine 100 %, and insulin up to six times its previous cost. Salman Es’haghi, a member of parliament’s health commission, notes that more than 70 % of healthcare expenses are paid out of patients’ pockets, forcing many to interrupt treatment.
War, Sanctions and Blockade Context
The conflict intensified after the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in April, briefly lifted by a framework agreement before being reinstated when talks collapsed. In late August the United States launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” further restricting Iran’s access to international financial networks. Israeli air strikes in late March targeted Tofigh Daru, a major pharmaceutical firm owned by Iran’s largest pension fund, alleging it supplied fentanyl to a defence-ministry research body. Tofigh Daru denies the allegation, stating it produced only fentanyl citrate for approved medical uses.
Impact on Patients
Patients bear the brunt of the crisis. Farah, a 59-year-old Tehran resident, switched from a Swiss-made autoimmune drug to an Iranian version because of price and availability, but now fears the domestic product may also run out. A labourer cited by parliamentarians requires two monthly injections costing roughly 74 million tomans—equivalent to several months’ wages for many Iranians. When treatment becomes unaffordable, patients often abandon therapy.
Official Statements & Responses
On-the-Ground Reports
A gastroenterologist and university professor in Tehran, speaking anonymously, described price increases for domestically produced generics as “staggering,” noting that the government’s gradual removal of subsidised foreign currency for medical imports and unpaid insurer debts—estimated at about 8 quadrillion rials (? $3.56 billion)—have compounded the crisis. The doctor warned that halted rotavirus-vaccine imports and potential interruptions to influenza-vaccine supplies threaten nationwide vaccination efforts, while rising inflation and food insecurity heighten the risk of malnutrition among vulnerable groups.
