Iran expands Family Physician Program to 64 medical networks

The Iranian health ministry is expanding the Family Physician Program across 64 medical networks to provide primary care to 3.5 million people in the initial phase.

Alireza Raeisi, a health ministry official, stated that the program currently covers 13.6 million people, with 7.7 million living in urban areas. While the ministry has finished assigning the rural population to the program, officials are still completing the process for urban residents.

The ministry plans to increase urban coverage by adding more physicians to the network. Currently, 2,528 physicians work in rural and urban pilot centers, and 1,610 specialists will soon begin providing essential services. The program uses digital health infrastructure to connect insurance systems, schedule appointments, and manage patient referrals. So far, the ministry has recorded 408,000 referrals to higher health services, 753,000 medical tests, and approximately two million prescriptions.

These efforts have identified 19,246 new cases of diabetes, 34,731 cases of high blood pressure, and 9,322 cases of prediabetes. Future phases of the program will include cancer screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal sites, as well as hearing tests, child care, and obesity identification. The ministry aims to concentrate treatment referrals and make healthcare more accessible. Raeisi noted that while the program requires long term patience and cultural shifts, the current implementation is promising.

The ministry also plans to establish a national headquarters headed by the President to oversee the management of the program.