Iran expands insurance coverage, approves national rehabilitation plan
Iran is moving to expand insurance coverage for medicines and strengthen rehabilitation services for people with disabilities and injured patients, Health Minister Mohammadreza Zafarghandi said on Tuesday, following decisions adopted at the 20th meeting of the Supreme Council of Health and Food Security.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Zafarghandi said the government is working to ensure that rising pharmaceutical costs do not translate into heavier financial burdens for households, IRNA reported.
"The concern of both the Health Ministry and the president is that these changes be offset through insurance coverage so that less pressure is placed on the public," he said.
According to the minister, discussions with insurers, the Central Bank of Iran, the Plan and Budget Organization, and lawmakers are focused on expanding insurance capacity to absorb a larger share of approved medicine costs.
Separately, the council approved a National Rehabilitation Document aimed at integrating rehabilitation services into the treatment process and helping patients return to daily life and employment.
Zafarghandi said the initiative would strengthen support for people with disabilities and others requiring rehabilitation services while promoting closer cooperation among government agencies and healthcare institutions.
The council also adopted new measures to reduce road traffic fatalities, assigning additional responsibilities to transport, safety, and healthcare authorities. Zafarghandi welcomed a decline in road and hospital deaths linked to traffic accidents compared with a year earlier and said sustained efforts would continue to improve safety, particularly for young people and motorcyclists.
On pharmaceutical supplies, the minister said Iran is taking steps to maintain stable production and availability of medicines despite logistical challenges affecting the import of some raw materials.
"We sought to compensate for these shortages through rail and air transport," he said, adding that maintaining an uninterrupted pharmaceutical supply chain remains a top priority.
Zafarghandi said Tehran has intensified consultations with major suppliers, including India and China, and dispatched delegations to explore additional procurement channels and reinforce supply security.