The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has warned that the consequences of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran could place the country’s healthcare system under strain for months or even years.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stated that after weeks of bombardment, Iran is facing the risk of a serious crisis in the provision of healthcare services, and shortages of equipment along with disruptions in supply chains may persist for an extended period. At the same time, the state-run newspaper Donya-ye-Eqtesad reported that drug shortages—especially specialized and imported medications—have intensified in Tehran pharmacies, forcing patients either to wait for supplies or to use alternatives with lower effectiveness.
Red Cross warning: ceasefire does not mean the crisis is over
Cristian Cortez Cardoza, Regional Vice President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the Middle East and North Africa, said after a four-day visit to Iran in Geneva that a ceasefire does not signify the end of the crisis.
He warned that hundreds of clinics, healthcare centers, educational institutions, and commercial units have been damaged or destroyed during the attacks, placing heavy pressure on people’s access to medical services.
According to him, concerns are growing over shortages of critical medical equipment, including dialysis machines and prosthetics. He said one factory that produces 60% of dialysis filters and equipment only has raw materials for the next three months, and its supply chain has been disrupted due to the war.
Drug shortages spread to major pharmacies
Alongside international warnings, the Donya-ye-Eqtesad report shows that the drug crisis has visibly worsened at the city level. The report states that supplying medications, especially specialized drugs, has become extremely difficult in recent weeks, and even well-known pharmacies in Tehran responsible for serving patients with special conditions are facing shortages.
The report notes that long lines form in front of the central pharmacy of the Red Crescent Society from the early hours of the morning, with many people queuing before it opens. Some visitors are not there for immediate purchases but to obtain pre-invoices to determine how much of the cost is covered by insurance and whether they can afford the medication at all.
Patients with chronic conditions caught between foreign drugs and domestic alternatives
One of the most important points in the report is the dilemma faced by patients with chronic conditions, who are caught between expensive foreign medications and less effective domestic alternatives. Drugs such as venlafaxine, certain insulin brands, some foreign cancer treatments, and antibiotics like rifampin are among those identified as difficult to find in the market.
Under such conditions, patients and their families are forced either to wait long periods for medications, use substitute drugs, or bear the very high costs of foreign medicines—despite the fact that even supplementary insurance covers only a limited portion of expenses.
Patients describe the realities of the drug market
The Donya-ye-Eqtesad report cites specific examples of this pressure. A woman with leukemia said that foreign drugs have higher quality and effectiveness, but she cannot afford them. Another individual spoke about the extreme difficulty of finding the antibiotic rifampin, explaining that its European version is no longer available in the market, the Turkish version has also become scarce, and the patient has ultimately been forced to use the Iranian version, which, according to them, is less effective.
In the same report, some visitors said that even medications not previously considered scarce have become difficult to find in recent weeks, with shortages more pronounced among foreign drugs—medications that, if available, are sold at higher prices.
Financial strain, drug shortages, and grassroots support networks
The report also shows that alongside supply issues, people’s financial ability to purchase medications has declined. Visitors say that with rising prices, insurance coverage limits are quickly exhausted, leaving many families unable to pay the remaining costs.
At the same time, around some pharmacies, grassroots support networks and charities have emerged to help patients obtain medications and navigate administrative and financial processes. This part of the report shows that the burden of the crisis is not solely on the healthcare system, and segments of society are spontaneously trying to fill the gaps.
The combined warnings from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and field reports from Iran’s pharmaceutical market indicate that the issue is not just a temporary shortage. The war has disrupted supply chains, damaged healthcare infrastructure, and at the same time increased financial pressure on patients.
