Iran is facing severe shortages of hundreds of medicines due to ongoing war with the US, sanctions, and a naval blockade, which have disrupted supply chains and driven up prices by nearly six-fold. According to Iranian media, over 90 essential or life-saving medicines are in short supply, while around 400 scarce medicines are produced domestically but rely on imported raw materials. The most vulnerable patients are unable to afford treatment due to the high out-of-pocket healthcare costs, which account for more than 70% of total healthcare expenses. The shortages and price hikes have been exacerbated by attacks on Iranian companies in the medicines sector and disruptions to international financial networks.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Iran is facing severe shortages of hundreds of medicines, including 90 essential or life-saving medications, due to a combination of factors including war, sanctions, and a naval blockade. The country's pharmaceutical sector has been severely impacted, with prices for basic medicines like paracetamol and insulin skyrocketing by nearly six times. According to the Iranian Pharmacists Association, around 400 scarce medicines are produced domestically, but many local manufacturers rely on imported raw materials, which have become difficult to access due to the blockade. This has led to collapsing supply chains and significant shortages of essential medications, leaving patients unable to afford treatment. More than 70% of healthcare costs in Iran are paid out of pocket, making it even harder for vulnerable patients to access care. The situation is particularly dire as the war with the US enters its seventh month, with no clear end in sight.
Written for “Iran's Medicine Shortage Crisis” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Prices for basic medicines such as paracetamol and insulin have skyrocketed amid major shortages of less common pharmaceuticals.
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Prices → skyrocket → pharmaceuticals
More than 70% of healthcare costs in Iran are paid out of pocket, leaving the most vulnerable patients unable to afford treatment.
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% → pay → treatment
Iran's pharmaceutical sector is facing shortages of hundreds of medicines, a near-six-fold price hike for basic drugs and collapsing supply chains, as the war with the US enters its seventh month and the effects of sanctions and a naval blockade accumulate.
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effects → face → sanctions
The shortages include roughly 90 medicines classified as essential or life-saving, according to Iranian media.
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shortages → include → media
Hadi Ahmadi, spokesperson for the Iranian Pharmacists Association, told domestic media last week that around 400 of the scarce medicines are produced domestically — evidence that local manufacturing has not insulated the sector from disruption, because many domestic producers rely on imported raw materials.
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producers → tell → materials
Ruhollah Lak Aliabadi, a member of parliament's health commission, told Tabnak news site that access problems for imported inputs were feeding directly into production and distribution failures.
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problems → tell → failures
Vahideh Mahmoudkhani, head of the health department at Iran's trade centre in Shanghai, told the newspaper Hamshahri that the war had completely shut down some supply routes and made others significantly longer.
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others → tell → routes
"Even some medicines that have run out are stuck in transit," she said.
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she → run → transit
But banking restrictions, difficulties transferring foreign currency and blockade-related transport disruption can prevent Iranian companies from purchasing drugs and raw materials abroad regardless of their formal legal status.
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restrictions → transfer → status
The US naval blockade of Iranian ports and cargo vessels imposed in April was briefly lifted following the framework agreement before being reinstated after talks collapsed.
Washington launched what it called Operation Economic Outcast in late August, designed to further restrict Tehran's access to international financial networks.
Mehdi Pirsalehi, head of Iran's Food and Drug Organisation, said on Tuesday that 44 companies in the medicines and medical equipment sector had been targeted in attacks since the war began, with staff killed and wounded.
He made the remarks at the opening of a pharmaceutical exhibition in Tehran, while stressing that two companies struck directly by several missiles were present at the event and had resumed production.
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companies → impose → production
In late March, Israeli officials announced they had struck it because of what they said was its role in supplying fentanyl to a research body within Iran's defence ministry.
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they → announce → ministry
Tofigh Daru rejected the allegation, saying it produced only fentanyl citrate in limited quantities and exclusively for authorised medical uses including surgical anaesthesia.
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it → reject → anaesthesia
Prices rising beyond reach
The physical shortage of medicines is compounded by price rises that are pricing patients out of treatment.
Mehr state news agency has reported that gabapentin — used to treat epilepsy and nerve pain — rose 220% in price over a year.
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gabapentin → rise → year
Paracetamol rose 375%, amoxicillin 285% and fluoxetine 100%.
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fluoxetine → rise → ?
Insulin, which diabetic patients require daily, has in some cases reached six times last year's price.
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patients → require → price
The continued depreciation of the rial on the open market is feeding further price increases across the sector.
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depreciation → feed → sector
Salman Es'haghi, a member of parliament's health commission, said more than 70% of healthcare costs in Iran are paid directly out of patients' pockets.
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% → say → pockets
Ahmad Ariayi Nejad, also on the commission, said the financial pressure was already showing in fewer patients attending clinics and doctors' surgeries.
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pressure → say → clinics
He cited the case of a labourer and tenant who needs two injections a month costing approximately 74 million tomans — a sum that amounts to several months' wages for many Iranians.
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that → cite → Iranians
When treatment for heart disease or cancer is interrupted or delayed for financial reasons, the harm is often irreversible.
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harm → interrupt → reasons
"Some people, because of economic hardship and lack of financial means, abandon their treatment part-way through," Ariayi Nejad said.
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Nejad → abandon → treatment
Tehran has maintained that the pharmaceutical industry continues to operate and that some shortages have eased since the war.
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shortages → maintain → war
