Iranians feel the pain as medicine market reels from economic pressure
Shortages and price hikes have gripped Iran's medicine market, deepening frustration and confusion among Iranians seeking drugs, hygiene products and basic medical procedures.
Shortages and price hikes have gripped Iran's medicine market, deepening frustration and confusion among Iranians seeking drugs, hygiene products and basic medical procedures.
In an open submission hotline to Iran International, people inside the country shared their experiences of hardship.
“I wish I could talk in depth about medicine prices, but since there’s no medicine to find, any such talk is useless,” one respondent said.
Another highlighted the difficulties women face in the market for hygiene products and supplements.
“Menstrual pads are hard to find, and prices are very high. A pack of magnesium pills for strengthening hair, nails and skin, even an Iranian brand, costs 570,000 tomans ($13),” she said.
'More hellish by the day'
Water and electricity shortages and outages have hit Iran in recent weeks, hitting daily life and harming health services.
“Iran’s medicine and treatment situation is a disaster as big as water shortages and other crises. Overall, Iran is becoming more hellish daily in every way,” another message said.
Some respondents said they were bypassing Iran’s market to get medicine from abroad.
“I bought thyroid pills for myself from Turkey for a year. The money I paid at the free exchange rate equals buying pills in Iran for 4 months. Plus, the ones from Turkey are genuine German, while those in Iran are terrible, have no effect, and expire in two to three months," one contributor said.
“It’s been days without medicine," another said. "I have no money. Borrowed today, got half—infinitely expensive. I don’t know what to do.”
Hard to afford
Some responses indicate that with rising prices, insurance companies are dropping coverage.
“Last year, a respiratory spray cost 500,000 tomans ($ 6), and insurance covered 85%. Now it’s 3 million tomans ($ 71 ), and insurance doesn’t cover it anymore," one said through a message.
"The asthma spray I used to get with insurance for 100,000 tomans a few months ago. Yesterday, one oral spray 400,000 ($ 9),"another respondent added.
The increasing prominence of the black market and the inflow of expired medicines with no quality control was also an oft-cited concern.
“Drug prices have broken the backs of people, especially the middle, lower-middle, and poor classes," a respondent said. "Meds are either unaffordable or expensive, unavailable, or, if found, are either expired or fake, especially in the black market where addicts, thieves, and dealers sell.”
Iranians, including children, dependent on medicines now face steep price hikes.
“I used to buy my kid’s medicine for 450,000 tomans ($ 10); now it’s 870,000 tomans ($ 20),” one said.
"I have diabetes. In the last five months, insulin was distributed only once," a respondent said. "It can't be obtained from the market at all, even at ten times the cost."
Residents in various districts describe inconsistent access, with high-rise buildings experiencing more severe cuts.
Authorities have advised installing pumps and storage tanks, but many complain water pressure is too low to make them effective. Power cuts also complicate the situation.
Field observations by Shargh newspaper show that Karaj Dam, normally holding up to 180 million cubic meters, now stores only around 60 million — one-third of its capacity. Of that, only a fraction is usable, as sediment and “dead water” account for an estimated 15% of the volume. Dam managers confirm a 45-meter drop in reservoir height from full capacity.
Mohammad Ali Moallem, the director of Karaj Dam, told Shargh that the reservoir has dropped to its lowest level in 64 years.
Authorities attribute the crisis to reduced rainfall, with Tehran province receiving just 185 mm this year — placing it among the top five water-stressed regions in the country.
Officials in Tehran blame drought and public overuse for Iran’s worst water shortage in living memory.
National figures show just 9.5% of Iran’s water goes to households and commerce, while agriculture consumes 86.5%, often with inefficient practices and low economic returns. Internal migration and aging infrastructure have further strained Tehran’s water system, making it the second most water-poor province after Sistan-Baluchistan.
In the capital Tehran, officials have attempted to curb consumption through emergency measures, including repeated water and electricity outages and temporary office closures on certain days.
An Iranian government plan to close workplaces and schools one day a week in response to worsening electricity and water shortages has sparked widespread criticism, with many citizens warning it will only deepen daily hardships.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has built over 60 dams in recent decades. More than half are now empty, with hydropower generation operating at just one-third of its nominal capacity.
The United States on Tuesday criticized Iran’s leadership over the ongoing nationwide crisis.