NOURNEWS: The General Director of the Iran Health Insurance Organization announced that approximately 70 percent of cancer treatment expenses are covered by health insurance in Iran. Mohammad Mehdi Nasehi further disclosed that 107 disease categories with significant financial burdens will be included in the insurance coverage.
Highlighting the organization's agenda for the upcoming Iranian year starting on March 21, 2024, Nasehi outlined a comprehensive plan consisting of eight key aspects, with prevention taking precedence. "Preventive measures are paramount and will be at the forefront," Nasehi emphasized, stressing the importance of initiatives aimed at altering the lifestyle choices of Iranians to mitigate disease risks.
He underscored that the primary objective of preventive interventions is to offset the costs associated with fundamental treatments, thereby averting the onset of illnesses. The focus of the new program is to prevent the occurrence of level 1 and 4 diseases among citizens.
Nasehi revealed plans to enhance the implementation of electronic prescriptions in the upcoming year, addressing existing shortcomings to streamline the interaction between physicians, patients, and pharmacists.
This system enables physicians to transmit prescriptions directly to pharmacies, allowing patients to procure medications by providing their identification numbers.
Additionally, Nasehi outlined the establishment of a support fund catering to patients with rare and challenging-to-treat conditions. "Approximately 400 diseases fall under the category of rare and difficult-to-treat illnesses, of which 107 groups are covered by health insurance," he stated, emphasizing the prevalence and severity of these ailments.
Responding to inquiries regarding the limited coverage for cancer treatment costs, Nasehi explained, "Cancer diseases are prevalent, and the expenses associated with medications can be significant, often reaching 500,000 tomans per unit (approximately 9 US dollars)."
NOURNEWS