Iran’s healthcare budget up 6 times in 8 years: Official
A senior Iranian budget official says government spending in the healthcare sector has increased by six times in eight years to over $6 billion.
Hamid Pour Asghari, a deputy head of the Plan and Budget Organization (PBO) of Iran, said on Tuesday that projected annual healthcare spending for the year beginning March 2021 will have reached 1,420 trillion rials, up from 230 trillion rials spent in 2013 when the current administrative government took office.
Pour Asghari said the share of healthcare spending from the entire budget has also increased to 17% from 10% in 2013.
Healthcare spending per capita has risen by over four times in eight years to 13 million rials for the current calendar year, he said, adding that out of pocket payments by patients has fallen significantly to only 10% in urban regions and half that figure for people living in the countryside.
The PBO official said that total number of hospitals in Iran will reach 1,137 at the end of the year to March 2022, an increase of more than 26% compared to records in 2013.
However, number of hospital beds will have increased by over 67% in eight years to a total of 188,000 in March 2022, said Pour Asghari.
“Some 400 beds have been added each month or, better said, the government has built a 400-bed hospital every months in the past eight years,” he said.
Iran has relied on its homegrown healthcare capacities to tackle one of the largest outbreaks of coronavirus pandemic in the Middle East.
That comes as the country has been barred from accessing essential drugs and medical equipment supplies from abroad because of US sanctions.
Iran reports slight increase in mining sector exports in April-October
Immunity of Iran’s shipping industry to illegal sanctions
Iran parliament committee approves to lower car import tariffs
Hezbollah attacks Israeli forces after Lebanese homes blown up
World leaders, states hail ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant
MP: US accountable for possible Israeli 'foolishness' to attack Iraq
VIDEO | Israeli policies strangle Palestinian agriculture, economy
Iran's president offers condolences to Pakistan over terrorist attack
Canada’s Yukon town council at standstill over refusing oath to King Charles
Yemen's Houthi calls for jihad to protect Palestine against Israel
VIDEO | Internal rifts within Israel
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
