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The of children is accessible to most of the urban and rural population. HEALTH SERVICES The Constitution entitles Iranians to basic health care, and most receive subsidized prescription Drugs and Vaccination programs. An extensive network of public clinics offers basic care at low cost, and general and specialty hospitals operated by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) provide higher levels of care. In most large cities, well-to-do persons use private clinics and hospitals that charge high fees. In most large cities, well-to-do persons use private clinics and hospitals that charge high fees. About 73% of all Iranian workers have Social Security coverage. Iran has been very successful in training/educating the necessary human resources for its health system. The system of almost 30 years ago where the country was facing a shortage of all kinds of skilled personnel in the health and medical sector has been completely changed into one in which the necessary professionals now completely suffice the country’s needs. There were 0.5-1.1 Physician s per 1000 population in 2004 according to various estimates (about 46 percent of physicians were women). {Link without Title} Although overall improvements have been achieved in all health areas since the 1979 revolution, the present challenging economic conditions of the country, combined with rapid advances in medical technology and Information Technology , individuals’ expectations, and the young Demographic of the population will undoubtedly challenge the sustainability of past improving trends. Moreover there is a considerable variation in the Human Development Index and the human poverty index across different provinces in the country. Health network Today the largest healthcare delivery network is owned and run by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) through its network of health establishments and medical schools in the country. MOHME is in charge of provision of healthcare services through its network, Medical Insurance , Medical Education , supervision and regulation of the Healthcare System in the country, policymaking, production and distribution of pharmaceuticals, and research and development. Additionally, there are other parallel organisations such as Medical Services Insurance Organizations (MSIO) that have been established to act as a relief foundation as well as an Insurance firm. According to the last census that Statistical Centre of Iran undertook in 2003, Iran possesses 730 medical establishments (eg. hospitals, clinics) with a total of 110,797 Bed s, of which 488 (77,300 beds) are directly affiliated and run by the MOHME and 120 (11,301 beds) owned by the private sector and the rest belong to other organisations, such as the Social Security Organization of Iran (SSO). There were about seven Nurse s and 17 hospital beds per 10,000 population. An elaborate system of health network has been established which has ensured provision of Primary Health Care (PHC) to the vast majority of public. However, access and Availability of health care continues to be somewhat limited in lesser developed provinces where the health indices are also lower as compared to national averages. The country is in an epidemiologic transition and faces double burden of the diseases. New emerging threats should also be considered. The demographic and epidemiological transition underway will have a significant effect on the pattern of morbidity and Mortality in the near and distance future, especially as it affects the emergence of Chronic non-communicable diseases and the health problems of an Aging population. In the early 2000s the main natural causes of death have been Cardiovascular disease and Cancer . WATER AND SANITATION Iran has one of the highest percentages of population in the Middle East with access to safe Drinking Water , with an esimated 92% of its people enjoying such access (nearly 100% in urban areas and about 80% in rural areas as of 2007) {Link without Title} http://www.wssinfo.org/pdf/country/IRN_wat.pdf. There is a considerable shortfall in deepens with An Expanding Population , this Pollution of groundwater causes increasing health risks. NUTRITION Despite the fact that Iran consists of an agrarian economy, there is a high degree of s is much higher. As an additional measure of Public Health and inefficient food distribution, about thirteen percent of the young people are classified as Obese , according to the same United Nations FAO sources. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Earthquake of December 2003 killed nearly 28,000 people. According to the , while there is an increase in Sexual Transmission of the disease." The rate of the epidemic in Iran is however still very low compared to international standards. Opium , which is being smuggled through the border with Afghanistan and other Drug addictions constitute a major and growing health problem; in 2005, estimates of the number of drug addicts ranged from 2 to 4 million (1.2 million according to the Government) Reasons for addiction include lack of economic prospects among the youth and lack of freedom. Increased drug use has driven up the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In 2005 two-thirds of the official total of 9,800 HIV cases were attributed to drug use. Iran has established a national HIV treatment system, including 150 testing sites and a free needle exchange program [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Iran.pdf Country profile - US library of Congress . PHARMACEUTICALS to be marketed. In 2007, Iranian Scientists announced the invention of this novel drug (IMOD) to fight against AIDS by using Nanotechnology and Herbs .]] Iran has a rather developed Pharmaceutical production capability, however, the country still relies on imports for raw materials and many specialised drugs. Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) has a mission to provide access to sufficient quantities of safe, effective and high quality medicines that are affordable for the entire population. Since the 1979 revolution, Iran has adopted a full generic-based National Drug Policy (NDP), with local production of Essential Drugs and Vaccines as one of the main goals. Iran-Daily: Biggest Pharmaceutical Plant to Open Soon . Currently 55 Pharmaceutical Companies in Iran produce more than 96 per cent (quantitatively) of medicines on the market, worth $1.2 billion annuallyhttp://iran-daily.com/1386/2880/html/national.htm. Although over 85 per cent of the population use an insurance system to reimburse their drug expenses, the government heavily subsidises pharmaceutical production/importation in order to increase affordability of medicines. The regulatory environment of the country is rather strict on the import of drugs and pharmaceuticals towards companies that intend to enter into the market for the first time. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT The Department of Medical Equipments in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) is responsible for supervising imports in this segment, but the import and distribution of such equipment is mostly handled by the Private Sector . Iran has undergone the primary stages of development in terms of Industrialisation and a rather strong indigenous manufacturing capability exists in the country. Therefore one can expect to find a handful of local producers for basic Medical Equipment , making it very hard to penetrate into the Iranian market for similar imported ones. There are over 100 Iranian companies representing the international suppliers in this market, handling both promotion and the after-sales service of the products. Iran is a mature market when it comes to medical equipment. Most of the major international players in this sector are present in the Iran market (American Sanctions Against Iran do not apply to medical equipment or pharmaceuticals):
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