Over 400 Pharmacists Gathered in Front of Khorasan Razavi Governorate

The information channel of the "Free Workers Union of Iran" reported that more than 400 pharmacists from pharmacies in Khorasan Razavi gathered in front of the governorate of this province. The report stated that these individuals gathered due to the emergence of the "largest" drug shortage in the country in the last 40 years. The protesters also expressed their concerns over severe shortages of infant formula and essential items in the country, as well as the debts of insurance organizations to pharmacies, which have led to the bankruptcy of over 70% of them. According to images published from this gathering, the attendees held placards protesting against the "illegal commission on the number of bank card transactions" and "deductions from people's pockets." The gathering of pharmacists in front of the governorate in Mashhad was also noted. According to the information channel of the "Free Workers Union of Iran," one of the issues raised by these individuals was the initiation of software platforms controlled by the IRGC for online drug sales. Additionally, another request was made to amend Law 1334 and prevent the establishment of state and illegal pharmacies, which has led to unemployment for over 1 million people in the country. The issues highlighted by the pharmacists have turned into a crisis in the health and medical sector of the country since last year. In this context, on November 5, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly stated that despite the Islamic Republic's claims of everything being "rosy" in the medical field, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, there is a shortage of "300 items" of medicine in Iran. Following the crises, the president of the Iranian Pharmacists Association also, on November 14, wrote a letter to the president, requesting clarification on the status of drug subsidies to pharmacies and announced that pharmacies do not have money to purchase drugs. The situation regarding infant formula is also extremely critical. The newspaper "Payam Ma" reported on Tuesday, November 9, that for over a month, the shortage of infant formula in the market has left parents wandering between pharmacies in small and large cities in Iran to obtain essential food for their children. This newspaper quoted Hani Tahvilzadeh, the head of the Association of Infant Formula and Baby Food Producers, stating that the reason for the shortage of infant formula in the market is the decisions made by the Food and Drug Organization. Senior officials of the Islamic Republic, especially Ebrahim Raisi, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have repeatedly promised to resolve medical crises, especially the "drug shortage," promises that have not only not been fulfilled but have reportedly intensified compared to the past, according to internal sources. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic government and official media in Iran have repeatedly attributed issues in the medical and health sector to sanctions. This is while, contrary to these advertisements, drugs and medical items have not always been included in the sanctions imposed against Iran and have had "exceptions" for procurement and import. The slogans "We want nothing but our rights, we do not want government charity" were heard in the gathering of social security retirees in Shush. Retirees gathered in Kermanshah with the slogan "The retired ship has run aground." Protests by telecommunications retirees in Zahedan with the slogan "Retiree, shout your right, scream it out." Protests by telecommunications retirees in Lorestan province with the slogan "What happened to the profitable company?" Continued protests by social security retirees and employees of the oil and gas industry in several cities in Iran. Holding protest gatherings by retirees and official oil employees in at least 5 cities in Iran.