Iran: Medical Missions and Workforce Training
Population: 81.16 million
Iran has gained many health achievements in the past decade, with a system of health service delivery integrated with medical education. Over 50 medical universities constitute a decentralized network of provincial health authorities overseen centrally by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOH&ME). In 2014 Iran launched the Health Transformation Plan (HTP), which focuses on: complete coverage of basic treatment needs through insurance for all and decreasing out-of-pocket expenditure so that patients’ have no financial concern about their illness. The primary health care network, particularly in rural areas, is a key to ensure health care for all Iranian citizens.
- There are an estimated 1.51 physicians per 1,000 population and 1.57 nurses and midwives per 1,000 population.
- Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live birth): 12.82
- Under-5 mortality rate (per 1,000 live births): 15.5
*Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division)
Our Impact
Since 2007, USFC has organized 4-8 specialized pediatric surgical missions each year in Iran in collaboration with the Zanjireh Omid Institute. Through these missions, USFC offers training for Iranian surgeons and surgical provision for children with complex malformations and other pathologies. Each year, anywhere from 4-8 missions are organized.
In 2018:
- 4 orthopedic surgical missions took place in which 225 children received consultations and 81 children received surgical treatment.
- 2 brachial plexus-focused missions took place in which 195 children received consultations and 51 received surgical treatment
- 2 spinal-focused mission took place in which 20 children received operations
- 6 Iranian surgeons visited France for training in heart surgery and orthopedic surgery.
- 3 Iranian surgeons were accepted into a training program at Necker Children’s Hospital, 2 surgeons were accepted at the Bizet Clinic and an additional surgeon was accepted at the Robert Debré Hospital, all in Paris, France.
Our Activities
As of today, 7,000 children have received treatment in six partner hospitals in Iran: The Child Medical Center, the Imam Khomeini Hospital, the Noor Afshar Hospital, the Shahid Rajayi Hospital, the Sina Hospital and the Vali-e-As Hospital. In tandem, Iranian surgeons are regularly welcomed to France for continuing education and specialized training.
In 2019, the Zanjireh Omid Institute is building a 550 bed children’s hospital on land donated by the Iranian Health Ministry and the Tehran Medical University. In preparation, USFC is organizing 6 orthopedic surgery missions, 2 plastic surgery missions and 2 neonatal heart surgery missions. Training missions in-country will be organized as well as out-of-country for 7 Iranian doctors at Parisian hospitals including: Robert Debré Hospital, Necker Children’s Hospital, Georges Pompidou European and the Bizet Clinic.
