Spiraling health costs force Iranians to delay care

A 70-year-old woman with advanced breast cancer was set to receive chemotherapy treatments every two weeks, each costing approximately six times Iran's minimum monthly wage. Due to soaring costs, financial difficulties and a struggling healthcare system, she and her family have sought postponement of further treatment. This is not an isolated case, as Iran grapples with skyrocketing health care expenses, shortages, and currency issues that impede patient access to necessary care.

Pharmaceutical prices in Iran have surged, with certain medicines seeing increases of up to 543%. Diabetes patients are among those most affected, with insulin costs ballooning from a fraction of the minimum wage to nearly double it after insurance reimbursement. The critical shortage of 43 medicines, including cancer treatments, threatens patient outcomes, as delays in therapy can reduce its effectiveness.

Some patients turn to unofficial, potentially unsafe cross-border channels to obtain medicines, while others postpone or abandon treatment altogether. The health crisis in Iran predates the ongoing conflict, with a weak pharmaceutical industry, sanctions, and disrupted supply chains exacerbating the situation.