Iran pharmaceutical industry faces massive unpaid claims and patient hardship

Iran's pharmaceutical sector is facing significant financial and logistical challenges. The Syndicate of Owners of Human Pharmaceutical Industries reported that outstanding claims from both public and private sectors have reached 267 trillion tomans.

This financial strain is directly impacting patients. Husein Zehtaban, CEO of the Kermanshah Cancer Patient Support Charity, noted that rising drug prices and living costs are forcing some cancer patients to sell essential household items, such as refrigerators and televisions, to afford treatment. He also highlighted that delays in insurance payments to pharmacies are causing shortages, leaving patients to wander between locations to find necessary medication.

In response, Mehdi Pirsalehi, head of the Food and Drug Organization, stated that while production costs and exchange rates influence pricing, not every price increase translates to higher costs for the patient. He emphasized that the government must support citizens against rising costs and warned that the current delay in insurance reimbursements to pharmacies is unsustainable for the healthcare system.