Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian officially opened the Hashemi Rafsanjani Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Tehran on January 9 in front of top officials and medical staff.

The new cancer centre, named in honour of former president Rafsanjani, who died in 2017, is the first to open under the new presidency led by Pezeshkian, a doctor himself who promised in his political campaign to improve access to medical services in the country.

The date of the opening of the eighth anniversary of former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's death comes as Iran's medical sector continues to face a barrage of problems from supply chain issues, currency decline and US-led sanctions which make the purchase of medical equipment and chemotherapy drugs difficult on the international market.

President Pezeshkian led the opening event of the cancer centre, which was established by the government-run Institute for Research, Education, and Treatment of Cancer and was accompanied by Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarkandi.

The hospital has 200 beds and was constructed with about IRR10 trillion ($12.27mn). The centre spans 160,000 square metres with nine above-ground and three underground floors.  It offers daily services to 1,000 patients, including drug therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.

Post-treatment support, such as physiotherapy, psychotherapy, nutritional therapy, and family assistance, is also available. A press release states that the centre is part of national insurance schemes, so it is effectively low-cost at the point of delivery.  

During the opening ceremony, Pezeshkian said, "Current problems can only be solved through public involvement and cooperation [from society]."

Pezeshkian elaborated on the government's current approach to overcoming crises: "Our primary goal is to reconcile with the people and foster closer connections with them. We can navigate existing crises and achieve stability and progress through public engagement and the unity of the government and the nation."

Pezeshkian praised the contributions of Fatemeh Hashemi Rafsanjani—the outspoken daughter of the former president—for her efforts in supporting patients with specific conditions, noting, "We have witnessed her compassionate and determined work firsthand.”

Medical access in Iran is generally affordable, but years of underinvestment by the state, emigration of the professional class and US-led sanctions on financial transactions with entities in the country have worsened health outcomes across the board.

One of the largest health children’s cancer charities in Iran, MAHAK, previously warned that sanctions were significantly hampering their operations to support children.

MAHAK wrote that several drugs, including antineoplastics such as Melphalan, Mercaptopurine and Vinblastine, can no longer be found in the Iranian pharmaceutical supply system.

Meanwhile, other drugs, including Nystatin and Ifosfamide, were dwindling in supply, with less than three months of stock left.

MAHAK is the only charity organisation purely dedicated to children with cancer in Iran, supporting more than 7,000 patients at any given time.