Health

Shariati Hospital
Shariati Hospital in Tehran

Health care in Iran and medical sector's market value was almost US $24 billion in 2002 and was forecast to rise to US $31 billion by 2007.[1] With a population of almost 70 million, Iran is one of the most populous countries in the Middle East. The country faces the common problem of other young demographic nations in the region, which is keeping pace with growth of an already huge demand for various public services. The young population will soon be old enough to start new families, which will boost the population growth rate and subsequently the need for public health infrastructures and services. Total healthcare spending is expected to rise from $24.3 billion in 2008, to $50 billion by 2013, reflecting the increasing demand on medical services.[2] Total health spending was equivalent to 4.2% of GDP in Iran in 2005.[3] 73% of all Iranians have health care coverage.[3]

The World Health Organization in the last report on health systems ranks Iran's performance on health level 58th, and its overall health system performance 93rd among the world's nations.[4] The health status of Iranians has improved over the last two decades. Iran has been able to extend public health preventive services through the establishment of an extensive Primary Health Care Network.[5] As a result child and maternal mortality rates have fallen significantly, and life expectancy at birth has risen remarkably. Infant (IMR) and under-five (U5MR) mortality have decreased to 28.6 and 35.6 per 1,000 live births respectively in 2000, compared to an IMR of 122 per 1,000 and a U5MR of 191 per 1,000 in 1970.[6] Immunization of children is accessible to most of the urban and rural population.[3]

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).[7][8]

There is a considerable shortfall in wastewater treatment; for example, in Tehran the majority of the population has no wastewater treatment, with raw sewage being injected directly into the groundwater.[9] As the water crisis deepens with an expanding population, this pollution of groundwater causes increasing health risks.

Nutrition

Percentage of national population suffering from malnutrition, according to United Nations statistics.
Percentage of national population suffering from malnutrition, according to United Nations statistics.

Serious attention to the nutritional status of Iranian people has been made since Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of Iran (INFSI) was established by Dr. Habibollah Hedayat in 1961. Despite the fact that Iran consists of an agrarian economy, there is a high degree of malnutrition within the country. Approximately one fourth of all young children have stunted or wasted growth characteristics due to undernourishment;[10] moreover, as an indicator of the poor food distribution capability, the percentage of undernourished children in villages 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. According to the government of Iran, about 60 percent of Iranians are overweight and 35 percent of women and 15 percent of men suffer from obesity in Iran.[11]

The Codex Commission of Food Stuff, established in 2002 is in charge of setting and developing standards and quality and health regulations, related to the production of and trade in raw agricultural products and food stuffs, in accordance with the different global standards.

The soft drinks industry is valued at about $2 billion a year. Today, Iran produces about 3 billion litters of different types of soft drinks to address consumption per capita of 46 litters, and export more than 12% of its production. Increased awareness with regards to the damages of carbonated drinks and sugar, and high levels of diabetes has created a move towards healthier products.[12]

Leading causes of mortality

In the early 2000s the main natural causes of death have been cardiovascular disease and cancer.

According to Ministry of Health and Medical Education, in 2003, 41% of total deaths were due to diseases of the circulatory system. Myocardial infarction as the cause of 25% of deaths was the leading cause of mortality among the population.[13]

Addiction is the fourth major cause of death in Iran following road accidents, heart disease and depression.[14]

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.

Iran MED and Iran LAB are the main annual exhibitions relating to medical and laboratory equipments in Tehran.[15] In 2009, approximately $3.1 billion worth of drugs and medical products were consumed in Iran. This shows an 80% increase from 3 years ago.[16] Iran’s per capita consumption is $21, as opposed to the global average of $94 because Iran subsidizes heavily its medical and pharmaceutical industry.[16] In 2009, Iran exported $74 million worth of "medical products" to countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Russia.[16]

U.S. sanctions against Iran do not apply to medical equipment or pharmaceuticals. 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:

3M
Aesculap
Boston Medical Group
Cordis
Guidant
Hiticha
Johnson & Johnson
Medtronic
Ohmeda
Philips
Siemens
Smith & Nephew
Stryker
Toshiba Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems
Zimmer

References

  1. ^ Health services and pharmaceuticals to Iran - For Australian exporters - Austrade
  2. ^ a b c http://www.payvand.com/news/09/apr/1027.html
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "IRAN: Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Forecast". Economist Intelligence Unit. August 18, 2008
  4. ^ WHO, World Health Organisation. "The World Health Report 2000". Retrieved 2006-10-12.
  5. ^ http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3439/html/economy.htm#s390000
  6. ^ UNICEF - At a glance: Iran (Islamic Republic of) - The big picture
  7. ^ http://www.unicef.org/specialsession/about/sgreport-pdf/03_SafeDrinkingWater_D7341Insert_English.pdf
  8. ^ Iran_islamic_rep_of_04.xls
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ Nutrition country profiles: Iran summary
  11. ^ http://www.payvand.com/news/10/oct/1140.html
  12. ^ http://www.atiehbahar.com/Resource.aspx?n=1000011
  13. ^ http://www.iranpharmaceutical.com/iran-health-indicators-and-health-care-system.html
  14. ^ http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0810278680174556.htm
  15. ^ http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3421/html/science.htm#s385215
  16. ^ a b c d e http://www.turquoisepartners.com/iraninvestment/IIM-Dec10.pdf

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