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Publish date: Wednesday 22 May 2019
view count : 97
create date : Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | 8:11 AM
publish date : Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | 8:11 AM
update date : Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | 8:11 AM

Iran’s medicine academy: US sanctions affecting patients’ treatment

  • Iran’s medicine academy: US sanctions affecting patients’ treatment
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The Academy of Medical Sciences of Iran, in a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, complained that the United States' unilateral sanctions against the Iranian nation have adversely affected the medical treatment of Iranian patients, deploring that the American bans have blocked the flow of international humanitarian aid to flood-hit victims of the country.

In a letter addressed to Guterres, the Academy’s President Alireza Marandi said that he had previously written to the world body in condemnation of the “unjust” US sanctions targeting the Iranian people. 

“These sanctions as mentioned in previous letters have led to many obstacles in providing all kinds of medicine and equipment needed for the medical treatment of the Iranian population,” he wrote in the letter.

Marandi, who formerly served as health minister, also expressed dismay that the American bans have blocked the flow of international humanitarian aid to Iran’s flood-hit regions.

“Unfortunately we are now facing further illegal and inhumane obstructions by The United States in its indiscriminate blocking of international aid to Iranians affected by the recent floods which have devastated large areas throughout the country,” he wrote.

Iranian officials have blasted the US administration for hampering shipments of relief supplies to the Iranian regions devastated by unprecedented floods caused by heavy spring rains. 

The medical academy official further criticized international human rights groups for keeping mum on Washington’s crimes.

“Unfortunately, international human rights organizations have remained consistently silent in the face of these crimes committed by the United States regime,” Marandi wrote.

Last year, President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, officially named the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and unleashed the “toughest ever” economic sanctions against Tehran.

Officially, the measures exempt humanitarian goods, such as medicine and medicinal instruments.

But in reality, they have had negative impacts on Iran’s health sector and restricted the country’s access to medical and health services.

Last month, Iran's First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri voiced concern over the impacts of the US sanctions on supplying drugs and medical equipment for the patients in the country, calling on the international bodies to stand against Washington's illegal policies.

"The Americans are lying that the sanctions have targeted the Iranian government while the sanctions are exerting the most pressures on the Iranian nation and their life," Jahangiri said, addressing a World Health Assembly forum on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf on Monday.

He said that the US sanctions are preventing supply of drugs needed for special patients and medical equipment, endangering the lives of many people.

"We expect the international bodies, specially the World Health Assembly, not to keep silence on the US administration's unilateral and illegal policies, specially in the health sector, which are directly related to people's life and is a completely humane issue, and use all instruments and leverages in their hands to stand against the US administration's inhumane measures and policies," Jahangiri underlined.

Back in March, 66 Iranian scientific medical societies wrote to the UN chief in denunciation of the “inhumane and medieval” American sanctions, which have led to “extensive shortages of life-saving medical supplies and drugs.”

In November, Marandi had called on the UN to act against the incessant violation of human rights” by the United States.

In relevant remarks also in November, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said American officials had admitted their incapability to stop Iran's crude sales, and the US sanctions would only leave negative impacts on imports of foodstuff, medicine and medical equipment.

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