Iran's low‑income families on brink of collapse due to soaring medical costs

Rising drug prices and treatment expenses have placed Iran's low‑income households in a state of financial emergency. In the June 2025 inflation report, medical goods topped the list of highest‑priced items, prompting labour activists and retirees to warn that many families are nearing collapse. Workers without sufficient savings or comprehensive insurance are resorting to loans, selling assets, or abandoning treatment, which threatens both health outcomes and household stability. Activist Maziyar Gilani‑Nejad highlighted the three‑fold pressure of unaffordable care, loss of income during illness, and inadequate insurance, noting that a single hospital stay can wipe out years of earnings. Simultaneously, drug shortages and price spikes have pushed essential medicines beyond global averages, further restricting access for a broad segment of the population. Sociologist Hossein Imani Jajermi warned that these combined economic stresses are pushing Iran beyond its tolerance threshold, deepening poverty and social insecurity.