Iranian private pharmacies face crisis over massive insurance debts

The Iranian Pharmacists Association has warned that over 18,000 private pharmacies are facing a severe financial crisis due to unpaid insurance claims. Shahram Kalantari Khandani, head of the association, stated that while the drug supply chain remained stable during recent conflicts, current shortages are driven by economic instability and liquidity issues rather than war.

According to association officials, the debt owed to pharmacies by the Social Security Organization has reached approximately eight months, while the Health Insurance Organization owes up to ten months of payments. Hadi Ahmadi, the association's spokesperson, reported that total outstanding claims from private pharmacies to insurance providers have reached 65 trillion tomans as of late July 2026. Furthermore, returned checks totaling 8 trillion tomans have paralyzed many private institutions.

The association criticized the government for providing securities instead of cash settlements, noting that these papers hold no value for the private sector. They emphasized that private pharmacies provide 80 percent of pharmaceutical services in the country and are currently struggling to purchase stock due to these systemic payment failures.