Iran Suffers Drug Shortage Due to US-Israeli Attacks
JAKARTA - A number of pharmacies in Iran are reported to be experiencing a shortage of medicines after the United States and Israel attacked pharmaceutical facilities in various regions of the country.
Citing pharmacist Dr. Pejman Naim in Tehran, the RIA Novosti news agency reported that the shortage of the drug is now increasingly felt amid the impact of the prolonged conflict.
According to Iranian authorities, since February 28, the US-Israeli military has attacked about 25 pharmaceutical facilities, including factories producing cancer drugs, cardiovascular diseases, anesthesia, and multiple sclerosis, as well as the Pasteur Institute of Tehran, the country's main vaccine manufacturer.
"Some drugs, such as those for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are very rare on the market. These drugs have actually been limited during the war, and residents have difficulty getting them both before and during the conflict. Now, the scarcity is getting worse," said Naim as quoted by ANTARA, Seelasa, April 28.
According to him, even though the situation is difficult, the condition can still be managed.
The Iranian government has opened a hotline to help citizens find out about the availability of drugs and the location of pharmacies that still have stock.
Naim explained that pharmacists also build a network to share information to help patients get the medication they need.
The government also provides support for the pharmaceutical sector, even though sanctions have made a number of special imported drugs very scarce and certain raw materials difficult to obtain.
"War has a very destructive impact, including on pharmacies. Drug sales have plummeted, while prices have soared so that residents have difficulty buying essential drugs," he said.
He hopes that the sale of drugs can recover and people's access to medicines will improve during the ceasefire or after the conflict ends.
The Iranian government has repeatedly called the US and Israeli attacks on pharmaceutical facilities a war crime.