Document Type : Letter to the Editor
Author
Ali Reza Ghorbani, Assistant Professor of Health Economics, Department of Public Health, School of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar,Iran
Abstract
Abstract
The right to health is a fundamental human right, an imperative underscored by the World Health Organization’s rights-based approach to healthcare. In many developing countries, part of the essential health commodities—including medicines and medical equipment— are provided through imports. Unilateral economic sanctions, often imposed for political objectives, can have severe indirect consequences on the health systems of targeted countries. Among the most alarming outcomes is the restriction of patient access to vital medications and essential medical devices. This not only constitutes a public health crisis but also represents a clear violation of international human rights and humanitarian principles. To mitigate patients' suffering and preserve their human dignity, measures such as establishing secure financial channels for medical imports, facilitating transfers through humanitarian institutions, and implementing international monitoring of healthcare in sanctioned countries are critically needed.
Keywords
Main Subjects
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