Influenza and COVID Cases Are on the Rise
Deputy for Treatment at Iran University of Medical Sciences, citing a rise in respiratory viral infections in the community, stressed the need to continue following health recommendations, especially among high-risk groups.
According to the report of Arjan Ambassador, Yasser Foroghi Qomi, in a press conference held this morning on Monday, Mehr 20th, with the media, pointed out the increase in cases of respiratory viral infections in the society, and emphasized the continuation of compliance with health recommendations, especially by high-risk groups. He also informed about the activities of 70 hospitals under the supervision of this university and the two hospitals of Bab al-Hawaj burn and psychiatry of Iran are on the threshold of operation.
Explaining the latest state of medical services, hospital infrastructure and the spread of viral diseases in the country, he said: We are currently facing the simultaneous circulation of respiratory viruses in the society, and some of the cases are related to influenza and the other part is related to Covid, which is also detected in some tests.
Foroughi Qomi stated that the cases of these diseases have increased with the start of the school season, adding: Although the conditions of Covid are different compared to the previous periods, it is still circulating in the society and it is necessary to follow the health recommendations to prevent the transmission of the disease.
Referring to the importance of protecting vulnerable groups, the vice-chancellor of Iran University of Medical Sciences stated: the elderly, children, people with immune system defects and those suffering from underlying diseases should pay more attention to preventive recommendations; Because viral infections, especially influenza, can have more serious consequences for these people.
Foroughi-Qomi also pointed out that there is a level of immunity in the society due to previous infections and vaccination, and noted: Despite these conditions, the risk of disease for high-risk groups cannot be ignored.
Monitoring coverage of 70 hospitals in Iran University of Medical Sciences
He went on to explain the range of medical activities of Iran University of Medical Sciences and said: This university is one of the largest universities of medical sciences in the country in terms of the number of centers covered, and its medical services and supervision include a population of about 6 million people in Tehran province.
Referring to the activity of 70 hospitals in the supervisory area of this university, the vice-chancellor of Iran University of Medical Sciences said: Of these, 20 are government hospitals and 50 others belong to private, charitable, public, non-governmental and other medical groups.
He added: According to the statistics presented in this meeting, the total number of approved beds in covered hospitals is about 13 thousand 850 beds, of which about 11 thousand 740 beds are active.
Construction of 25 new hospitals in different stages
Referring to the plans for the development of medical infrastructure in Tehran province, Foroughi Qomi said: Currently, 25 hospital projects in the field of activity of Iran University of Medical Sciences are in various stages of construction, and with their completion, a significant capacity will be added to the inpatient infrastructure of the region.
He continued: These projects have different conditions in terms of the amount of physical progress; In such a way that some are in the initial stages of construction and others have high physical progress and are close to the final stages.
Referring to the effect of the current conditions on the opening schedule of some projects, the Vice President of Medicine of Iran University of Medical Sciences said: Two important hospitals of this university are on the threshold of operation, and their opening has faced changes in the schedule due to recent conditions.
Foroughi Qomi said about Bab Al-Hawaj Burn Hospital: This project is being completed with more than 98% physical progress and it is expected to be put into operation in the coming months.
Emphasizing the importance of developing specialized burn treatment capacities, he added: With the establishment of this hospital, it will be possible to organize and strengthen specialized burn services, and this center can play an important role in providing services to patients in Tehran province and patients referred from other provinces.
He also pointed out the necessity of developing specialized centers for the treatment of burn patients and said: This group of patients needs special specialized facilities, equipment and services, and the development of treatment infrastructure in this field is of great importance.
In another part of his speech, the vice-chancellor of Iran University of Medical Sciences announced that Iran Psychiatric Hospital is ready for opening and stated: This hospital has passed the preparatory stages and its operation is expected in the near future.
Pointing to the importance of developing mental health services and treating psychiatric patients, Foroughi Qomi stated: Creating appropriate capacities to provide services to these patients is one of the important needs of the health system, and the establishment of specialized centers can help improve patients' access to medical services.
Emphasizing the sovereign responsibility of universities of medical sciences in the provision and development of medical infrastructure, he noted: providing services to burn and psychiatric patients, due to the need for equipment, facilities and specialized care, comes with significant costs; However, providing the necessary capacities for the treatment of these patients is one of the important tasks of the health system, and the development of these infrastructures is pursued with the aim of responding to the treatment needs of the society.
Two new hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences will be put into operation by the end of the year
The vice-chancellor of Iran University of Medical Sciences, referring to the progress of more than 98% of two hospital projects of this university, announced plans to open Bab Al-Hawaj Burn Hospital and Iran Psychiatric Hospital by the end of this year.
Explaining the latest status of construction projects in the field of treatment, he said: these two projects have reached the final stages in the new management period and we are trying to put both hospitals into operation before the end of the year in order to increase the capacity of providing specialized treatment services in the area covered by the university.
Registration of more than 784 thousand surgeries in 1404
Referring to the amount of services provided in the hospitals and medical centers covered by this university, the Vice President of Medicine of Iran University of Medical Sciences said: In 1404, a total of 784 thousand and 22 surgeries were performed in the hospitals covered by the university.
He added: In this same year, the number of hospitalizations reached 851 thousand 838, and university medical centers recorded 6 million 776 thousand 327 outpatient visits and 3 million 239 thousand emergency visits.
Describing the performance of medical centers in the first five months of 1405, Foroghi Qomi continued: In this period of time, 307 thousand 155 surgeries were performed and 336 thousand 430 hospitalizations were registered. Also, medical centers covered by the university had 3 million 762 thousand 80 outpatient visits and 1 million 152 thousand 998 emergency visits.
He emphasized: This statistic shows the extent of medical activities of Iran University of Medical Sciences and the high volume of services provided to people in hospitals and medical centers of this complex.
40% increase in referrals to government hospitals
Referring to the change in the pattern of patients' visits to medical centers, the Vice President of Medicine of Iran University of Medical Sciences stated: This year, along with the increase in medical tariffs, we have seen a change in the attitude of some people in choosing medical centers and an increase in visits to government hospitals.
He added: University estimates show that referrals to government hospitals have increased by about 40%; On the other hand, some of the referrals from private hospitals have decreased and moved to government centers.
Saying that economic factors and the increase in treatment costs are the main reasons for this change, Foroughi Qomi stated that Iran University of Medical Sciences, in addition to government hospitals, also supervises the activities of 50 private, charitable and non-governmental hospitals. The reduction of referrals to some of these centers and the increase of referrals to government hospitals have made a significant change in the distribution of the burden of medical services.
Paying from people's pockets; Red line of Iran University of Medical Sciences
Emphasizing the necessity of financial protection for patients, Foroughi Qomi said: One of the main policies of Iran University of Medical Sciences is to control the payment from people's pockets and prevent additional costs from being imposed on patients.
He added: According to the statistics presented by the financial management of the university in the meetings of the board of directors, the amount of payment from people's pockets in the university is reported to be less than 22%.
Referring to the economic conditions of the society, the vice-chancellor of Iran University of Medical Sciences pointed out: controlling medical costs and preventing the increase of financial burden on the shoulders of the people is one of the main priorities of the university, and this issue is continuously investigated.
He continued: One of the important axes of monitoring government hospitals is to prevent patients from being referred outside the hospital to obtain medicine, equipment and items needed for treatment. Because such a situation can impose additional costs on patients.
Foroughi-Qomi emphasized: monitoring this issue and trying to provide the items needed by patients in medical centers are among the measures that the university follows to support people and reduce their expenses.
Claims of more than 10 thousand billion tomans of the university from insurances
In another part of his speech, the vice-chancellor of Iran University of Medical Sciences pointed out the financial challenges of medical centers and said: despite the increase in referrals to government hospitals and the growth of the volume of services provided, the university's pending claims from insurance organizations have reached more than 10 thousand billion tomans, equivalent to 10 hemats.
He added: The major part of the university's income is provided by insurance claims, and in the current situation, the delay in the payment of claims by the Social Security Organization and the Health Insurance Organization has put considerable pressure on the financial management of the university.