Tehran, IRNA – The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has announced the arrival of a new shipment of Spinraza medicine which is used for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients.

SMA is a neuromuscular disorder that results in the loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle wasting, which may take away the ability to walk, eat, or breathe.

It is usually diagnosed in infancy or early childhood and can be fatal if left untreated.

Alireza Askari, the head of the Medical Procurement Organization of the IRCS, announced on Saturday that imported medicine for SMA will soon be available to patients under the supervision of the Health Ministry.

The Red Crescent Society hopes to reduce the suffering of patients and improve their quality of life, he added.

Despite Washington's claims that humanitarian goods are exempted from the sanctions, US-led sanctions against Iran have made it difficult for the country to acquire essential medicine and medical equipment, which has led to critical diseases and deaths among patients.

Iran has slammed the sanctions as “economic and medical terrorism”.

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