Iran is once again grappling with a catastrophic failure in its healthcare system after reports emerged of at least 70 dialysis patients dying due to contaminated medical solutions. The solutions, produced by Thamen, a pharmaceutical company affiliated with the Astan Quds Razavi Foundation, were reportedly tainted with aluminum. This revelation comes amidst growing public outrage and accusations of negligence within the government and healthcare authorities.
Astan Quds Razavi is a powerful religious and economic institution in Iran, managing vast assets linked to the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. Closely tied to the regime, its leadership is appointed by the Supreme Leader, ensuring alignment with government interests. This grants it significant autonomy and minimal oversight, fueling criticism that it prioritizes the regime’s agenda over public service and faces allegations of corruption and misuse of power.
Solemnly acknowledging the disaster, Salman Eshaghi, spokesperson for the regime Parliament’s Health and Treatment Commission, confirmed, “Initially, 10 to 12 dialysis patients in the cities of Mashhad and Isfahan died due to the contaminated solution, displaying symptoms such as seizures, infections, and comas. The death toll then rose to 50, and now it has reached 70.”
In response to the confirmation of the deaths of 70 dialysis patients, the acting head of public relations for the Ministry of Health stated on November 4 on social media that the incident occurred last year and that its current discussion was “to expedite judicial follow-ups.” While the ministry has attempted to downplay the issue’s significance, emphasizing that immediate measures were taken to collect contaminated peritoneal solutions and asserting that “there is no cause for concern now,” public reactions and continued hospitalizations of affected patients suggest otherwise. The acknowledgment follows extensive online backlash and earlier parliamentary confirmation of the fatalities due to aluminum-contaminated solutions.
#Iran News in Brief
Secretary-General of the Nurses’ House warned that patients in Iran's hospitals are losing their lives due to the shortage of nurses.
A report in May suggested that over 10,000 doctors and nurses had emigrated from Iran in 2022.https://t.co/KtV9LEUNZV pic.twitter.com/D8CD6ANqaJ— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 12, 2023
The scandal underscores significant regulatory failures within Iran’s pharmaceutical sector. Eshaghi emphasized that despite the Commission’s investigation months ago and clear evidence pointing to oversight failures, no decisive action was taken. He lamented, “Although more than three months have passed since this issue was examined in the Commission, the judiciary has yet to take substantial action. Alarmingly, we have heard that the same company has been allowed to continue producing medication despite these failures.”
Heydar Mohammadi, head of the Iranian Food and Drug Administration, provided more technical details. “Our investigations from last year revealed that certain dialysis solutions produced by Thamen contained small amounts of aluminum, which is unacceptable. The issue originated from two suppliers that provided contaminated raw materials, leading to these adverse effects,” Mohammadi stated on November 3. He noted that some batches failed safety standards, although others were deemed acceptable.
This crisis has sparked concerns over the integrity of Iran’s healthcare system and its oversight capabilities. With 800,000 Iranians relying on dialysis treatment, the scale of this failure has left many questioning whether fundamental changes are being pursued or if the clerical establishment will continue to permit such negligence unchecked.
The Iranian regime’s systemic corruption and mismanagement have critically undermined the nation’s healthcare system, leading to significant loss of life and widespread suffering. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the regime’s failure to implement timely and effective measures resulted in a staggering death toll, with reports indicating over half a million fatalities across 547 cities by April 2022.
#Iran's Increased Military Budget at the Expense of Critical Healthcare Situation. https://t.co/NDZjnFpptT pic.twitter.com/8aKiuoJNcl
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 28, 2016
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei exacerbated the crisis by banning the import of vaccines produced in the United States and the United Kingdom, labeling them “completely untrustworthy.” This decision forced citizens to rely on domestically produced vaccines, many developed by companies affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Healthcare professionals faced severe underpayment and exploitation. Nurses, in particular, were subjected to irregular contracting practices, leading to job insecurity and inadequate compensation. The Tehran Nursing Organization reported that approximately 5,000 nurses emigrated due to these harsh conditions, exacerbating staffing shortages and further straining an already overburdened healthcare system.
Hospitals were overwhelmed and lacked the necessary resources and support to manage the crisis effectively. The regime’s mismanagement led to critical shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies. Reports indicate that the IRGC profited from these shortages, controlling the supply and distribution of medications.
The regime’s prioritization of its own interests over public health resulted in a healthcare system ill-equipped to protect and care for its citizens. The combination of corruption, mismanagement, and negligence not only undermined the quality of healthcare but also led to preventable deaths and suffering among the Iranian people.
