Spiraling health costs force Iranians to delay care

A 70-year-old breast cancer patient faces financial hardship due to the soaring cost of chemotherapy in Iran. Each session costs six times the minimum monthly wage. Iran's rising healthcare costs, shortages, and economic pressures are making treatment increasingly difficult for many. Pharmaceutical prices have surged by as much as 543%, and insulin prescriptions have doubled in cost after insurance reimbursement.

For patients with chronic diseases, alternative medications may not be available, and switching drugs is often impractical. Some patients are turning to unofficial cross-border channels for necessary treatments, but there are concerns about storage conditions and the risk of counterfeit or expired medicines. The health care system's vulnerabilities are compounded by currency depreciation, rising production costs, and the economic ramifications of war.