Spiraling health costs force Iranians to delay care

A 70-year-old woman with advanced breast cancer was scheduled to receive chemotherapy every two weeks at a cost of approximately 100 million Iranian tomans per session, which is roughly six times the minimum monthly wage. Her children requested the doctor to delay further treatment while they sought financial assistance.

Across Iran, escalating prices, persistent shortages, disruptions in foreign currency transfers, and mounting pressure on the healthcare system are making it increasingly difficult for patients to access necessary treatments. Iranian pharmaceutical companies have raised prices on numerous products, with some increases exceeding 120%.

Diabetics are among the most affected, with the cost of a month's supply of insulin increasing from about 280,000 tomans after insurance reimbursement to roughly 1.1 million tomans. For many specific diseases, there are no viable alternatives, leaving patients with limited options.

Some patients turn to physicians abroad to obtain cancer medications, while others postpone or abandon treatment altogether due to the high costs. Cancer drugs like Keytruda can cost over four times the monthly minimum wage in Iran, forcing patients to seek unverified sources.

The healthcare challenges in Iran have deep roots, including a weakening currency, rising production costs, delayed payments from insurers, and US sanctions. These issues have been exacerbated by the current war, disrupting supply chains and limiting foreign currency transfers. Despite higher allocations for medicines and medical equipment, delays in payments, imports, manufacturing, and distribution contribute to shortages.

Iran's healthcare system is grappling with multiple pressures, making it particularly vulnerable to the current crisis.