Following a report by Iran International on contaminated dialysis solutions linked to the Supreme Leader’s office, Iran’s acting president has ordered an urgent investigation. Mohammad Mokhber, the acting president, called for a thorough inquiry by the anti-corruption coordination head into the adverse effects caused by the contaminated dialysis solution.
Iran International TV’s Titre Aval program (First Headline) revealed documents showing that peritoneal dialysis solutions produced by Samen Pharmaceutical Company were contaminated with aluminum. This contamination, which has poisoned several dialysis patients and resulted in fatalities, is particularly concerning as Samen Pharmaceutical is owned by Astan Quds Razavi, a business conglomerate controlled by Ali Khamenei’s office and sanctioned by the US.
Peritoneal dialysis is a treatment for kidney failure that filters blood through the abdominal lining, requiring the insertion of a surgical tube into the belly. The contamination issue has had severe consequences, with individuals recounting their loved ones experiencing seizures and coma-like states with decreased consciousness. Following the program’s broadcast, further reports emerged, including the death of a patient due to the contamination’s consequences.
Iran International also published two letters highlighting the severity of the issue. The first letter, dated June 6, from the Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) to Samen’s CEO, demanded an immediate halt to the distribution and use of the contaminated solutions. The second letter, dated June 8, from the director of the Iranian Nephrology Association, informed nephrologists across Iran about the contamination and patient poisonings, confirming that Samen acknowledged the issue.
The US sanctioned Astan Quds Razavi during Donald Trump’s presidency for being controlled by Iran’s Supreme Leader. The US Treasury described the institution as enabling “Iran’s elite to sustain a corrupt system of ownership over large parts of Iran’s economy.” Astan Quds Razavi, which manages the Imam Reza Holy Shrine, has extensive economic holdings in Iran. Both Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s late president and former head of Astan Quds Razavi, and his successor Ahmad Marvi were sanctioned under Executive Order 13876.
Following the Iran International report, the IFDA confirmed it had received reports of problems and side effects related to Samen Pharmaceutical Company’s peritoneal dialysis solution. They issued an order to stop the production, distribution, and consumption of this product’s entire manufacturing series until more detailed tests were conducted. The Samen company also announced that the issue is under investigation.
This report comes amidst significant concerns over the scarcity and escalating costs of medications in Iran. Pharmaceutical companies are facing bankruptcy and closure, with many common and critical hospital drugs unavailable. The government controls medicine imports, allocating foreign currency to public and private sector importers. However, Iran’s economic challenges, exacerbated by numerous sanctions, have strained the government’s ability to allocate foreign currencies effectively. Additionally, widespread corruption in the pharmaceutical sector has worsened the situation.
Despite these health sector challenges, the government continues to finance various armed militias throughout the Middle East, including Hamas, Lebanese Hezbollah, and Houthis in Yemen, as well as maintaining a military presence in Syria. Over the past few years, there have been numerous reports of corruption in drug imports involving the Ministry of Health and the Red Crescent. It has been revealed that some groups allocated government funds for medicine imports but misused these funds for other purposes, further exacerbating the crisis in Iran’s healthcare system.
