The ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel has exacerbated Iran’s already critical medicine shortages. With disrupted supply routes and damaged health infrastructure, many Iranians are struggling to find essential medications. This situation is compounded by long-standing sanctions and currency volatility, which have made accessing medical treatment increasingly difficult.
Patients are now facing stark realities, such as searching multiple pharmacies for basic drugs or abandoning prescriptions due to soaring prices. Reports indicate that some medications have become so scarce that they are kept under lock and key in pharmacies, while others are sold at exorbitant markups.
The Iranian Pharmacists Association warns that the war could lead to further shortages of vital materials needed for pharmaceutical production. Even though some medicines are technically exempt from sanctions, banking restrictions complicate procurement, making it slow and costly.
As the crisis unfolds, the impact on everyday life is becoming more pronounced. Patients are turning to social media to share information about available medicines, highlighting a growing reliance on informal networks as traditional supply chains falter. This situation not only threatens the health of individuals but also poses a significant challenge to Iran’s healthcare system as a whole.
Source: DW News