Source:

Deutsche Botschaft Teheran: [ID 9558]

Source:

Deutsches Orient-Institut: [ID 9559]

Source:

Deutsches Orient-Institut: [ID 9560]

Source:

World Health Organisation: Health Legislation ("World Health Organisation: Health Legislation - Iran") [ID 9563]

"The Public Medical Service Insurance Act. Adopted 8 November 1994, and amended 4 November 1995. (English translation published by the Medical Service Insurance Organization, Tehran, 1997. 11 pp.)

Article 2 of this Act, which repeals all earlier contrary provisions, provides for the establishment of the Public Medical Service Insurance High Council within the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Training. Article 3 indicates the composition of the Council, which is presided by the Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Training. Article 4 prescribes that the Government is to bring about the necessary conditions to cover all persons in need of medical services, while Article 5 provides for the establishment of the Medical Service Insurance Organization as a body affiliated to the Ministry and having independent legal personality. Under Article 6, the cooperation, partnership, and activities of companies involved in medical service insurance are to be based on the standards of this Act and comply with the approved per capita premium. Article 7 lays down, inter alia, that all Government agencies and organizations and those affiliated to the Government, the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee, and natural and legal persons are free to choose insuring organiziations or companies for the conclusion of medical service insurance contracts, in accordance with the standards and contents of this Act. Articles 8, 9, and 10 deal with the approval by the Council of Ministers of, respectively: the tariffs of diagnostic and therapeutic services; the medical service per capita premium and the amount of franchise payable by the insured; and the minimum extent and level of medical services and medicines covered by insuring organizations and the list of sub-specialized services subject to double (complemetary) insurance. Article 11 deals with the provision of free health services through the network affiliated to the Ministry, while Article 12 gives details concerning the provision of medical services to villagers (as defined). Article 13 determines the contributions of the various groups covered by the Act. Article 14 provides for Government payment of insurance premiums in the case of persons who are unable to pay. Article 15 indicates the duties of the Plan and Budget Organization. Under Article 17, it is the duty of all hospitals, health and treatment centres, diagnostic centres, and physicians to receive and treat the insured in accordance with this Act.

Decree No. H/14861t/21778 of 12 May 1995 of the Council of Ministers approving the Articles of Association of the Medical Service Insurance Organization. (English translation published by the Medical Service Insurance Organization, Tehran, 1997. 12 pp.)

Article 1 of Chapter 1 (Generalities) of these Articles of Association establishes the Public Service Insurance Organization in pursuance of Article 5 of the Public Medical Service Insurance Act of 1994 (see IDHL, 2001, Iran 01.001). Under Article 5 of Chapter 2 (Object, duties and powers), the object of the Organization is to bring about the means and possibilities of medical service insurance for civil servants, needy people, villagers, and other social groups at national level. Article 6 prescribes that the Organization's duties include: the creation of funds for different social groups; per capita premium collection for medical services from those subject to the Act; the payment of medical expenses in respect of the insured persons covered by the Act; the control of the proper execution of medical service supply contracts and medical insurance; the conduct of examinations, studies, and research in the field of medical service insurance; and the examination and estimation of the amount of medical per capita premium. The Organization's powers, which are listed in Article 7, include: the establishment of norms relating to the conclusion and cancellation of contracts; the establishment of norms concerning the preparation and examination of records and documents of physicians, medical groups, and institutes parties to contracts; the collection of medical documents and data from medical institutes and physicians; and the conclusion of contracts with insurance companies for the cover of those subject to the Act. The remaining Chapters are entitled as follows: 3. Organs (Articles 8-23); and 4. Financial affairs and financial resources (Articles 24-27)."

Document(s): World Health Organisation: Health Legislation - Iran

04.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Drugs & drug addiction ("Country Report - April 2005") [#31980], [ID 9552]

"[...]Drugs
5.58 According to the World Health Organisation in 2002 most medications are available locally under various generic and company labels. [28b] The production of generic inhibitors for HIV/AIDS is also undertaken. [21bb] According to the F&CO those medicines not available, which are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, can be ordered through the Red Crescent Society by presenting a doctor’s prescription. The prices for medications bought in Iran are much cheaper than the UK prescription and dispensing charges. There has also been considerable development in the pharmaceutical industry in Iran during the last decade. The essential raw material for the majority of medicines is imported from overseas and then the medicine produced and packaged locally. This is again subsidised by the Government. There is also a black market for certain types of foreign medications and the cost of such medications is quite high in comparison to those readily available at pharmacies. [26a]
Drug Addiction
5.59 According to the Centre for Harm Reduction Report 2002 drug addiction is considered a crime but the authorities are ready to consider drug use as a medical problem. Drug users who are undergoing treatment are not meant to be persecuted, nor are the specialists offering treatment. The costs of diagnoses, treatment, medicines and rehabilitation are to be paid by the addicts according to the approved tariffs but the Government will finance the costs for those unable to pay. It is up to the judge to distinguish whether the person is an addict or a trafficker; a positive test to opium shows the person was an addict while possession was interpreted as being a trafficker. [34] See also paragraph 6.212 for further information on the illegal drugs situation. 5.60 According to the CHR Report 2002 the State Welfare Organisation, affiliated to the Ministry of Health, is in charge of treatment and rehabilitation of drug users. Until recently there were 12 treatment and rehabilitation centres in the country with one centre for women. The centres were described as having the infrastructure of an overcrowded prison. These centres have now been closed and the new approach is the introduction of outpatient treatment centres. [34] In 2000, the number of out-patients centres in provincial capitals was 100 compared to 65 centres in 1999 and 40 in 1998. During 2000 it was anticipated that the treatment centres could offer services to over 100,000 volunteer addicts per annum. [5at] [34] In recent years a number of treatment facilities have been established by the private sector and are openly advertised in the press. The qualifications of the people running these clinics, and the outcomes of their activities, still remain largely untested. [34] [...]"

Document(s): Open document

12.2002 - Source:

Discourse (NetIran): Iran's Unemployed Doctors ("12/2002 - Discourse (NetIran): Iran's Unemployed Doctors") [ID 9557]

Document(s): 12/2002 - Discourse (NetIran): Iran's Unemployed Doctors

10.2002 - Source: UK Home Office

UK Home Office: Private and governmental hospitals ("Country Assessment - October 2002") [#9556], [ID 9554]

"4.54. There are two types of hospitals in Iran, private and governmental. To receive treatment in the governmental hospitals, one must belong to the Social Security Scheme whereby the employer pays the subscriptions for the employee, which would then entitle them to subsidised medical treatment and medication. In Tehran and other larger cities such as Shiraz and Isfahan there are many well-reputed hospitals. These are staffed by physicians and specialists, most of whom are very experienced and internationally trained. There is an extensive range of specialist care found in Tehran, both in the private and governmental sector. For complex medical conditions where treatment is not available locally, the patients can apply to the Supreme Medical Council for financial assistance towards payment of medical expenses overseas. The Supreme Medical Council consists of a group of specialist doctors who assess and examine each case to determine whether such assistance in funding should be allocated."

Document(s): Open document

10.2002 - Source: UK Home Office

UK Home Office: Availability of medications ("Country Assessment - October 2002") [#9556], [ID 9555]

"4.57. Most medications are available locally under various generic and company labels. Those medicines not available, which are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, can be ordered through the Red Crescent Society by presenting a doctor's prescription. The prices for medications bought in Iran are by far much cheaper than the UK prescription and dispensing charges. There has also been considerable development in the pharmaceutical industry in Iran during the last decade. The essential raw material for the majority of medicines is imported from overseas and then the medicine produced and packaged locally. This is again subsidised by the government. There is also a black market for certain types of foreign medications and the cost of such medications is quite high in comparison to those readily available at pharmacies."

Document(s): Open document

2002 - Source:

World Health Organisation: Selected Health Inidicators for Iran ("2002 - World Health Organisation: Selected Health Inidicators for Iran") [ID 9561]

Document(s): 2002 - World Health Organisation: Selected Health Inidicators for Iran

08.2000 - Source:

Behdasht-e Khanevadeh (NetIran): The AIDS Crisis in Iran ("08/2000 - Behdasht-e Khanevadeh (NetIran): The AIDS Crisis in Iran") [ID 9562]

"An investigation of all those infected with the AIDS virus through March 21st, 2000, reveals that there are currently 1890 identified AIDS cases in Iran.

The majority of the patients (1285) are drug using men who have been infected as a result of sharing contaminated needles with other drug users. The rest of these patients are likely to have been infected through sexual activities and contaminated blood supplies.

The first AIDS case reported in Iran dates back to 1987 when a hemophiliac six year old child was diagnosed to have been infected. This led to the establishment of the National Committee to Fight AIDS and its executive and technical committees."

Document(s): 08/2000 - Behdasht-e Khanevadeh (NetIran): The AIDS Crisis in Iran