Iran’s pharmaceutical industry is facing a looming crisis as renewed UN sanctions and the activation of the “snapback mechanism” tighten restrictions on financial transactions, insurance, and imports, leading to anticipated drug shortages by the end of the year.According to Mojtaba Sarkandi, a pharmaceutical industry expert, the sector’s access to foreign currency has dropped by up to 20%, while import costs for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and stabilizers—mostly sourced from China and India—have risen by about 40%. These factors, combined with the reimposition of financial and insurance sanctions since October 6, have significantly delayed shipments and increased logistical costs.Sarkandi warned that humanitarian exemptions “no longer function effectively,” as international banks and insurers practice self-censorship, further complicating imports. He added that the production of several high-demand medicines, including biotechnological and oncology drugs, is at risk due to disrupted supply chains and lack of temperature-controlled transport.Industry insiders report that, while sanctions account for roughly 40% of the crisis, domestic policy failures—including delayed currency allocation, rigid price controls, and mounting debts from insurance organizations—exacerbate the situation. Producers claim that official price caps no longer cover real manufacturing costs amid inflation and rising production expenses.Pharmacy owners also report shortages of up to 500 essential drugs, even in emergency pharmacies, as financial bottlenecks ripple through the supply chain. Experts urge the government to inject emergency funds into insurance organizations to settle debts with pharmacies and ensure the liquidity needed to sustain drug production.Despite official assurances from the Ministry of Health that medicine supplies will remain stable, experts warn that unless financial channels dedicated to pharmaceuticals are secured, Iran could soon face its most severe drug shortage since 2018. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: ETEMAD NEWSPAPER