Jafar Jandaghi, the director of the Center for Non-Communicable Disease Management at Iran’s Ministry of Health, stated that the number of cancer-related deaths in the country will double within the next 15 years.
According to him, 79,000 people die from cancer in Iran each year. This statistic comes at a time when rising drug prices have made the treatment of chronic illnesses, such as cancer, accessible only to a privileged economic class.
In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the number of new cancer cases worldwide will exceed 35 million by 2050.
In early March 2025, Jafar Jandaghi reported that approximately 390 new cancer cases are identified daily in Iran, totaling 142,350 cases annually. He also stated that 216 people die from cancer every day, amounting to 79,000 deaths per year.
Pharmacists and Doctors Concerned Over the Impact of Rising Drug Prices and Shortages in Iran
Last year, two contradictory statistics were reported regarding the incidence and detection of cancer in Iran.
In November 2023, the director of the Office for Non-Communicable Disease Management at the Ministry of Health stated that between 85,000 and 90,000 new cancer cases are detected annually in Iran, which translates to 233–247 cases per day. A comparison between last year’s figures and this year’s data shows a 58–67% increase in cancer case detection.
However, in February 2024, the Ministry of Health reported that cancer incidence in Iran had reached 150,000 cases annually—contradicting both the previous year’s figures and the latest data. This discrepancy might suggest a declining trend, though no official source has confirmed or supported such a claim.
Drug Price Surge and Halted Cancer Treatment
Jandaghi’s warning about rising cancer mortality rates comes amid a sharp increase in drug prices over recent months. Multiple sources have raised alarms about an impending pharmaceutical crisis.
Iranian Families Forced to Abandon Children’s Cancer Treatment
The state-affiliated newspaper Ham-Mihan reported, citing the CEO of the Institute for Supporting Children with Cancer in Khorasan, that in February 2025, some families abandoned their children’s cancer treatment due to financial difficulties.
Additionally, the president of Iran’s Radio-Oncology Association stated that new cancer drugs have not been included in the insurance coverage lists.
According to him, immunotherapy and targeted therapy drugs cost between 100 million and 1 billion rials per treatment cycle (approximately $100 to $1,000), while the minimum wage for a worker with two children is about $15 per month.
Poverty and Healthcare Crisis in Iran
In January 2025, Iran’s Statistical Center reported that 27% of Iranians—approximately one-third of the population—earn only $2 per day. This means they cannot afford medical treatment if they become ill.
Ham-Mihan reported: “It is estimated that 68% of cancer patients face catastrophic healthcare costs, meaning they spend more than one-third of their income on treatment. The lowest-income 30% of the population cannot afford these expenses, as most healthcare costs are paid out-of-pocket rather than covered by insurance.”
The most common cancers in Iran are breast, prostate, colorectal, non-melanoma skin, and stomach cancer.
Global Warning: The Rising Tide of Cancer Cases
In February 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that new cancer cases worldwide could surpass 35 million by 2050.
Although Iran is not considered a developed country, it is expected to bear a significant portion of this increase. Previously, cancer was the second leading cause of death in Iran, following cardiovascular diseases.
The lack of a centralized data collection system is a major issue, and the actual number of cancer cases is likely higher than reported. The Iranian regime has no structured cancer detection program, posing a serious public health risk.
Conflicting reports on cancer incidence and mortality, skyrocketing drug prices, lack of insurance coverage for many essential medications—forcing patients to buy from the black market where drug authenticity and expiration dates are uncertain—along with negligence in cancer prevention efforts, could make cancer control even more challenging. Iran may reach the predicted doubling of cancer cases in less than 15 years.
