Sanctions, regulation and prices restrict access to medicines
By 
Phillip Broadwith2026-10-06T09:38:00
Having medicines available when we need them is a privilege, but access more globally is complex and relies on sometimes fragile supply systems.
While medicines are officially exempted from US sanctions on Iran, wider restrictions on freight have stifled imports. Regulatory complexity in Japan means many drugs never end up being approved there, while negotiations over price and value for money can complicate which drugs get used in different countries.