Iran's Rising Drug Prices Push Patients to Delay Chemotherapy

A single chemotherapy session in Iran can cost up to six times the country’s monthly minimum wage, a figure that has drawn attention to the growing financial strain on patients seeking cancer treatment. The high cost is compounded by rising drug prices and a nationwide shortage of essential medicines, according to medical professionals.

Doctors report that the combination of steep treatment fees and limited drug availability is causing more patients to postpone or abandon their therapy regimens. In many cases, the inability to secure necessary medications or afford repeated sessions leads to delayed diagnoses, reduced treatment efficacy, and poorer outcomes for those with life‑threatening illnesses.

Health authorities are monitoring the situation closely, while advocacy groups call for policy interventions to stabilize drug pricing and improve supply chains. The continued escalation of chemotherapy costs threatens to widen disparities in cancer care across Iran’s population.