Reactions to Raisi's Remarks on Drug Shortages: Put Yourself in the Patients' Shoes

Some Iranian social media users have strongly criticized the remarks of Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, regarding the shortage of medication for special patients. In his speech at the "Thirteenth National Elites Conference," Raisi responded to parents of individuals with special diseases who had protested the drug shortages by saying, "First, life is in God's hands," and "Second, how do we know we cannot produce the necessary medications?" Journalist Ehsan Badaghi, while sharing Raisi's comments, addressed him by saying, "Put yourself in the shoes of patients who are spending golden moments of treatment without medication and are close to death, and their families. What feeling do you get from such a response?" Journalist Marzieh Mahmoudi reacted to Raisi's remarks by stating, "The last time you tried to produce medication, thousands died from COVID-19, and in the end, you had to resort to imports!" Yeganeh Khodami, another journalist, also reacted to Raisi's statements by saying, "My blood sugar was rising, and I had no insulin; I tell it, life is in God's hands." Yaghma Fashkhami, a journalist, referred to Raisi's previous promises, writing, "This same Raisi told people in the Army pharmacy in August 2021 that with our service, everything will be solved." Another user, identifying as a neurologist, stated that Raisi lacks knowledge about "vital statistics and estimating life expectancy based on past cases," adding, "This very statement led to the loss of thousands of lives due to delays in importing COVID-19 vaccines." Such remarks from senior officials of the Islamic Republic have precedent. For instance, Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi, the Minister of Health in Hassan Rouhani's government, once told a baker who complained about medical and physiotherapy costs, "You rub it yourself!" Recently, Bahram Einollahi, the Minister of Health of the Islamic Republic, claimed that Iranian medications would be exported to "40 countries around the world" and that many countries consider Iranian drugs to be "effective and successful." Raisi's and his health minister's comments about producing Iranian medications come at a time when the country has repeatedly faced the problem of drug shortages and high prices, and medications for special patients remain scarce. Many lose their lives due to the lack of medication, including Akram Amini, a journalist suffering from cancer who complained about the lack of cancer medication and ultimately passed away. In June, the head of the Iranian Thalassemia Association stated that the mortality rate for this disease has increased sixfold since May 2018, with 260 thalassemia patients dying annually due to "shortages and lack" of medication. Younes Arab added that Iranian-made medications do not work for these patients. The use of low-quality raw materials in the production of domestic medications and the side effects resulting from their consumption are among the issues raised regarding domestically produced drugs. Islamic Republic officials blame the drug shortage problem on Western sanctions. However, some experts have previously pointed out that officials prevented the import of the "Deferasirox" medication for thalassemia patients under the pretext of sanctions to sell low-quality domestic products, including those produced by the "Osveh" company. The United States has repeatedly stated that the export of humanitarian items, especially medical and even hygiene supplies, to Iran is exempt from sanctions, and according to official statistics from the European Union, the 27 member states of this organization exported over $2.4 billion to Iran in the first eight months of 2021. Iran ranks 85th in the world in terms of drug exports. Data from the "World's Top Exporters" website in 2022 shows that in the drug export sector, Israel achieved the 21st rank in the world and the first in the region with sales of $3.471 billion. According to this data, Turkey is ranked 29th, Cyprus 46th, Pakistan 52nd, and the United Arab Emirates 61st. Bahram Einollahi again referred to Iran as "one of the most successful countries in the region" in controlling COVID-19 and mentioned the production of six domestic COVID-19 vaccines. Official mortality statistics obtained from countries by "Our World in Data"—which experts in Iran claim are significantly lower than the actual figures—show that Iran has the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in the region. A recent study involving several Iranian researchers focusing on "vaccination speed" indicates that if Iran had conducted COVID-19 vaccinations according to Turkey's model, it could have prevented 50,000 additional deaths compared to the current mortality rate. Based on the same model, if Iran had followed Bahrain's vaccination model, it could have prevented 75,300 deaths, particularly among those over 50 years old. The preference for domestic vaccine production and the prohibition of Western vaccines by Ali Khamenei have been among the reasons for the slow COVID-19 vaccination in Iran, which has led to the deaths of tens of thousands. The rationing of baby formula in Iran; the Food and Drug Administration: it will only be sold with the infant's national ID code. The scientific committee for combating COVID-19 in Iran has repeatedly called for the inclusion of Pfizer's pill in the country's drug list. A research report from Voice of America; scientific assessment of the published research on the performance of the Barakat vaccine. The United States announced the establishment of a channel for sending humanitarian aid to Iran. Discrimination in Iran has reached the field of treatment; medication is not available. The Islamic Republic and its priorities; "unable" to meet the drug budget deficit; "capable" of providing "currency" for Arbaeen. The expansion of poverty and reduced access to essential items; medication has also become subsidized. The last breaths of the Darougar company; a few remaining workers are in limbo. A warning from a union official; the pharmaceutical industry is "locking down."