Mahsa, a mother of Iranian family, told France 24 a few weeks ago to have to go around the pharmacies of Teheran, to find anti-epileptic drugs for her husband, since the United States reinstated their sanctions on the Iran's economy in November 2018. It is clearly not the only one in this case. Other patients suffering from serious illnesses are totally deprived of treatment, denounces Human Right Watch (HRW) in a report published on October 29th.
According to the NGO, which has spoken with Iranian health professionals and Iranian and international pharmaceutical importers, patients with certain cancers, epilepsy, epidermolysis bullosa and chronic ocular lesions - caused by exposure to chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq war - are most threatened by US economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
"Epileptic children resistant to standard treatments and unable to obtain imported medicines have frequent and uncontrollable seizures, which can cause injuries and, over time, serious and permanent brain damage", alert in particular the l NGOs.
Humanitarian exemptions not respected
Iran produces 96% of the drugs consumed by its population, but imports more than half of the raw materials used in their composition, according to the Iranian Union of Pharmaceutical Industries. However, the import of these raw materials is delayed or prevented by the strict application of US sanctions. Tehran also needs to buy the necessary medicines abroad for patients with rare diseases, such as epilepsy.
"The broad web of US sanctions has led banks and companies to withdraw from humanitarian-related trade with Iran, leaving Iranians with rare or complex diseases unable to receive drugs or treatment they need, "said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW's Middle East Director.
US sanctions, however, provide for exemptions for the humanitarian and medical fields. Yet, "they are not enough to offset the strong reluctance of companies and banks in the US and Europe to risk sanctions and lawsuits by exporting or financing activities or medical and humanitarian goods," says the NGO in its report . As proof of this, Human Rights Watch has been able to consult correspondence from several banks in which they refuse to authorize humanitarian transactions with Iran.
A situation that is not likely to work out. New sanctions were imposed on September 20, this time targeting the Iranian Central Bank, the country's last financial institution still able to engage in foreign exchange transactions involving humanitarian imports.
Unsuitable substitution treatments
"The US government has created a climate of fear that is scurrying banks and companies," says Tara Sepehri Far, researcher on Iran in the Middle East Division of HRW, interviewed by France 24. "Their fear is legitimate , the United States has a serious responsibility, because they are the ones who imposed these sanctions with as much rigidity and they convey threatening speeches which dissuade all those who still would like to trade with Iran ".
As an example, the NGO cites the case of a European company which, despite the humanitarian exemption in force, has refused to sell special dressings that patients with epidermolysis bullosa need. "Result, these Iranian patients are forced to use local dressings substitutions, which hang their skin weakened by the disease, causing unbearable pain," says Tara Sepehri Far.
In response to these findings, HRW calls on the US government to respect international law, according to which "a country or coalition of states applying economic sanctions should take into account the impact of these measures on the human rights of the affected population. especially its access to vital goods, including medicines and food ". The NGO calls on Washington to facilitate Iranians' access to medicines and medical equipment by "working to establish viable financial circuits with reasonable obligations for companies, banks and groups that provide humanitarian goods to the Iranian people rather than imposing even heavier obstacles. "
Corruption in Iran
The Iranian state is not left out. "He has an obligation to prevent corruption cases, including the importation of drugs," said Tara Sepehri Far. "This crisis also serves the interests of high-ranking people who take advantage of shortages to get rich."
In early September, the Iranian authorities arrested the daughter of a former Minister of Industry. Shabnam Nematzadeh is accused of seizing part of the drug import market, preventing the movement of stocks, in order to drive up prices. A booty that brought him more than 1.5 million dollars, announced the Iranian Ministry of Justice, who wanted to make his case an example.
With AFP