Severe Drug Shortages and Price Hikes Crisis in Iran

Citizens and pharmaceutical trade associations in Iran report a severe crisis characterized by drug shortages and price hikes of up to 400 percent in recent months. The situation is particularly critical for patients with special conditions, including cancer, organ transplants, epilepsy, and psychiatric disorders, who face soaring costs or complete unavailability of essential medications. Reports indicate that patients often visit numerous pharmacies daily without success, leading some to seek drugs on the black market or accept inappropriate recommendations for herbal alternatives. Specific examples include Novorapid insulin reaching 900,000 tomans per vial and cancer medication Erbitux rising to 25 million tomans. The crisis is exacerbated by insurance companies' failure to settle payments with pharmacies, forcing many drugs into the free market. Patients describe the situation as a regression to pre-modern healthcare standards, with life-threatening risks for those unable to secure consistent treatment. The shortage affects both specialized and general medications, alongside increased costs for diagnostic and therapeutic services, creating a disastrous healthcare environment across various provinces.