Medicine is getting more and more expensive in Iran. Experts blame the trend on currency fluctuations and economic sanctions. Meanwhile, patients are the ones to suffer.

Doctor Nosrat Firusian remembers a time when he gave a patient an Iranian anesthetic. A few minutes later, the patient was still staring at him wide awake.

"He simply didn't fall asleep," Firusian recounted to DW.

Since then, the Iranian doctor living in Germany brings a big suitcase full of medicine with him every six weeks to Tehran.

Just a year ago, Firusian said, it was still possible to buy German medicine in Iran itself. But now the medication that his cancer patients need to survive has become way too expensive. He said in just eight weeks, prices have doubled, or in some cases tripled. Firusian, who is head of oncology at a hospital in western German town of Recklinghausen, knows of colleagues who face similar problems. Some have trouble getting medicine for children with leukemia.

Michael Tockuss, board member of the German-Iranian chamber of commerce, blames the problem on the EU's sanctions on Iran. The measures are intended by Brussels to force Tehran back to the negotiating table and give up its nuclear ambitions.

Drugs excluded from the sanctions

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told DW in a written statement that the system of sanctions contains all necessary measures to make sure that vital humanitarian goods are not affected.

That includes medication and food, and means such goods can be traded without any special approval. They can also be paid for through Iranian banks - something otherwise forbidden under the sanctions.

Ashton's office added that in the end, the decision to end trade with Iran lies with companies.

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Iran struggles with medicine shortage