Medical Equipment: A Pillar of Health System Resilience | Industry Activists Should Convey Problems Directly to the President

The Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, stressing the role of the medical equipment industry in the resilience of the health system, said: Liquidity shortage is the most important problem facing this industry today, and to resolve it, follow-ups are underway at the government level, the Plan and Budget Organization, and the Supreme National Security Council.

Emphasizing the role of the medical equipment industry in the resilience of the health system, the Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education said: Lack of liquidity is the most important problem of this industry today, and to solve it, follow-ups are being done at the level of the government, the Program and Budget Organization, and the Supreme National Security Council.

According to the report of Ambassador of Arjan, Mohammad Reza Zafarqandi, Minister of Health, in the opening ceremony of the 4th exhibition of medical, dental, laboratory and pharmaceutical equipment Iranmad 2026 at the international exhibition site of Aftab Tehran, referring to the special conditions of the country and the need to pay attention to these conditions in decisions and judgments, stated: the country is in a special situation and it is not possible to make decisions or judge today's issues with the criteria of normal conditions.

Honoring the memory of the martyrs of the war and referring to the dead and wounded of the Dana ship, he added: I saw some of the wounded of this ship up close. Some of them were 16 or 17-year-old teenagers who were in a training ship and did not engage in combat activities. The images of these teenagers and students, especially at the beginning of the school year, will never be erased from my mind.

The Minister of Health stated that the health sector had a serious responsibility in the special conditions of the country, and continued: the health system played a very important role in these conditions and honestly performed well. This issue has been noticed not only in the country, but also at the international level.

Referring to his attendance at the World Health Assembly and his meeting with Tedros Adhanom, Director General of the World Health Organization, Zafar Qandi said: In this meeting, where representatives of about 180 countries are present, health ministers usually request time to meet with the Director General of the World Health Organization. Last year I had a meeting with Mr. Tedros, but this year, without having arranged for a meeting, he sent a message that he would like to talk to me.

He added: In this meeting, the Director General of the World Health Organization was greatly impressed by the greatness, resilience and resilience of the Iranian nation, and his words fully reflected this.

Referring to the different behavior of the Director General of the World Health Organization, the Minister of Health said at the end of the meeting: usually, after the meeting, they are escorted to the room, but Mr. Tedros insisted on accompanying me. He first came to the elevator and then accompanied him to the street and the place to get into the car. This behavior was out of the usual formalities and it showed how much attention was paid to the standing of the Iranian nation.

medical equipment; One of the pillars of health system resilience

Emphasizing that the resilience of the country is the result of the efforts of various sectors, Zafar Qandi said: The greatness and standing of the Iranian nation is formed from a set of resilient sectors that have joined each other. One of the most important sectors is the health field, and one of the main pillars of the resilience of the health system is the medical equipment industry.

Referring to his field visits to hospitals during the 12-day war and the Ramadan war, he said: From the beginning of these incidents, I tried to be present in hospitals and medical centers and see closely what needs and deficiencies there are. In the early days of the Ramadan war, when visiting different hospitals, one of the things that came up was the lack of contrast material used in CT scans. After follow-up, it was found that this substance is present in the warehouses of medical sciences universities, but the authorities are careful in its consumption and distribution to prevent shortages in the coming days. With follow-ups, this problem was resolved.

Zafarkandi thanked the activists of the medical equipment industry and said: The presence in the hospitals, especially the surgery, angiography and other treatment departments, showed that the activists in this field have an important role in the continuity of medical services. I appreciate all those involved in production, import and private sector activists who are working to meet the needs of the health system in these difficult circumstances.

Pursuing liquidity problems in the government and the Supreme National Security Council

Referring to the economic problems of the medical equipment industry, the Minister of Health said: the problems of this industry, especially the lack of liquidity, are not hidden from anyone. This issue is one of our daily concerns in the Ministry of Health and has been brought up many times in various meetings with the President and the Head of the Program and Budget Organization. In order to provide the required financial resources, we follow different paths, the use of bonds is one of them. Some other solutions also need planning and review in the Supreme National Security Council, and we are doing the necessary follow-up from this direction.

Referring to the existing restrictions in the supply and import of medical equipment, Zafarkandi said: the country is facing complex conditions and sea and air restrictions have affected the supply and import routes. The people of Iran have endured a lot of hardships in this situation and the events that have taken place have upset them, but in the end, we have all come together around one flag and one name, i.e. Iran.

He continued: We are all indebted to this watershed. As a university teacher and doctor, everything I have achieved today is the result of the country's facilities and people's support. We have been educated and grown with public resources and people's taxes, and we should appreciate this capital and trust.

Reflect problems directly to the president

Emphasizing the necessity of greater cooperation of medical equipment industry activists to solve existing problems, the Minister of Health said: We in the Ministry of Health are following up on the issues of this industry and I will personally raise this issue with the President and officials of the Program and Budget Organization. Even the other day, we had a discussion with the medical doctor about the same problems.

Addressing the officials and activists of the medical equipment industry, he added: I expect you to reflect your problems independently and in writing to the decision-making officials, including the president. Of course, report problems to the Ministry of Health, but direct correspondence with higher decision-making levels can help follow up and resolve issues. The Ministry of Health is doing its follow-up, but we need the cooperation and support of the industry activists to achieve the result. The more the problems are transferred to the authorities, the more effective decision making and follow-up will be possible.

Insurance debt to the drug and medical equipment sector

Referring to the role of insurance in providing liquidity in the health sector, the Minister of Health said: An important part of our financial problems is related to insurance debt. Insurance organizations have debts that need to be determined in the field of medicine, medical equipment, and human resources payments. To solve these problems, the necessary follow-ups should be done in cooperation with the program and budget organization and insurance organizations. We have also raised these issues in recent discussions with the officials of the Supreme National Security Council and we are following up on this path.

Zafarkandi expressed his hope that with the cooperation of the government, the Ministry of Health, insurance organizations and medical equipment industry activists, the existing financial problems will be reduced and the process of providing the necessary equipment for medical centers will be facilitated.

saving the lives of patients; The most important achievement of the efforts of health activists

In another part of his speech, the Minister of Health emphasized the importance of timely supply of medical equipment and said: For those working in the health field, there is no greater pleasure than saving the life of a patient. Imagine a patient with severe heart pain and in a situation where he sees death in front of his eyes, enters the hospital, and there is an expert, committed and ready to serve doctor.

He continued: In such a situation, the existence of a heart stent provided by the efforts of medical equipment industry activists can save the patient's life. When this device is provided to the doctor and the patient's vein is opened, in less than a minute, the patient's severe pain may be relieved and peace will return to the patient. The value of this moment cannot be compared to anything else.

Referring to the round-the-clock services for the treatment of heart and cerebral strokes, Zafarkandi said: the activity of treatment complexes in the form of programs 247 and 724 is very valuable. Behind each of these services is the effort of a large group of doctors, medical staff and medical equipment industry activists.

He emphasized: "The conditions of the country are complicated, but we will continue our efforts to solve the problems of the health system." We expect the activists of the medical equipment industry to continue to strengthen the resilience of the health system and provide services to the people.

Unveiling of 17 new medical equipment products in the conditions of war and embargo

On the sidelines of this ceremony, the Minister of Health mentioned to the reporters, referring to the capabilities of domestic manufacturers of medical equipment, that: In this year's exhibition, activists of more than 200 professions related to medical equipment are present and have presented their various products. Many of these products, in addition to meeting domestic needs, are also exported to countries in the region. Today, we are in a situation where the country is facing war, embargo and blockade, but the activities of medical equipment manufacturers are not only not stopped, but continue with strength. A clear example of this issue is meeting the needs of the country's hospitals and medical centers, which, despite all the restrictions, do not face a shortage of medical equipment.

Referring to the new achievements of domestic manufacturers, he said: At least 17 new and innovative products in the field of medical equipment have been introduced in this exhibition. This incident shows that the country's medical equipment industry continues the path of development and innovation even in difficult conditions.

Zafarkandi also pointed to the wear and tear of some of the equipment and machinery of factories producing medical equipment and said: One of the problems of this industry is the aging of the devices and production lines of some factories, which must be modernized. The President has emphasized the necessity of modernizing the machinery of these factories and has given orders to the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade in this regard. The Ministry of Health is also pursuing the provision of currency and financial resources needed for the reconstruction and renovation of the worn-out equipment of these production units.

The Minister of Health emphasized: Renovation of production machinery is one of the issues that should be pursued with the cooperation of the responsible agencies so that producers can continue their activities with up-to-date equipment.

There has been no shortage in the provision of medicine and medical equipment

In response to a question regarding the provision of currency for medicine and medical equipment, the Minister of Health explained: The fact is that the Central Bank has provided and paid the currency required for medicine and medical equipment in accordance with the law and the government's planned programs.

In the end, he expressed his hope that the process of providing foreign currency for medicine and medical equipment will continue according to the plan until the end of the year, so that the needs of the health system and producers in this area will be provided without interruption.