Iranians Skip Treatment as Chemotherapy Costs 6 Times Monthly Wage

A single chemotherapy session in Iran can now cost six times the country's monthly minimum wage. With drug prices soaring and essential medicines running short, doctors report that more patients are delaying or completely abandoning their treatment. The sharp rise in medical costs is pushing basic cancer care out of reach for many ordinary Iranians. One session of chemotherapy—often just one step in a longer treatment plan—now consumes more than half a year's income for a worker earning minimum wage. Physicians on the ground say the trend is clear: patients are showing up later, skipping doses, or dropping out of treatment programs entirely. The shortages and price spikes have created a situation where the cost of staying alive is becoming unsustainable for a growing number of families. Health experts warn that delayed or interrupted cancer care can lead to worse outcomes, making the financial crisis a direct threat to public health. The full scale of the problem remains unclear, but the pattern is consistent across multiple reports from Iranian doctors.