Patients in State Hospitals Also Face Shortages of Bedsheets and Blankets

Referring to rising drug prices and insufficient funding for the special and intractable diseases fund, the head of the parliamentary Health and Medical Committee warned that continued problems in medicine and treatment could prevent some patients from continuing their care.

According to Ambassador Arjan, Hossein Ali Shahriari said about the increase in treatment costs for special and incurable patients, including reports that the cost of medicine for thalassemia patients reached 150 million tomans per month and the measures taken by the parliament to support these patients, even if the speaker of the parliament announced the resources of 15 hemti for the fund for these patients and emphasized that these resources are separate from the health insurance, he said: We held a meeting with health insurance officials in this regard. The relevant officials also attended the meeting and announced that there are financial resources and necessary measures will be taken; But the problem is that the credit of 15 Hemti of the special and incurable diseases fund, considering the number of patients and different groups of diseases, definitely does not meet the needs.

The head of the health and treatment commission added: nearly 130 groups of incurable and rare diseases are covered by this fund, and considering the heavy costs of treatment, the allocated resources are not enough and are definitely not the answer.

Shahriari continued: For this reason, I have submitted a request to the commission to hold a meeting with the presence of medical doctors, so that we can discuss with them directly the serious health problems and the difficult situation that patients are facing.

Expressing concern about the current situation, he said: We are really worried; Because the continuation of this process may cause many patients not to continue their treatment and unfortunately some suffer serious injuries. In this regard, we have sent a letter to Mr. Dr. Mezikian and requested that a meeting be arranged as soon as possible to present the realities in the society through the representatives of the people and their servants.

The Chairman of the Health and Medical Commission of the Parliament stated: People expect that if nothing can be done in any field, but with the presence of Dr. Mezikian at the head of the government, the health status of the society will improve. But unfortunately, this has not happened yet. People, especially patients, have serious concerns and we are also concerned about the health status of people.

400% increase in drug prices and lack of medical equipment

When asked about the status of drug supply in the country, even in the news, India has refused to provide drugs to Iran, he said: "Of course, but the government is trying." But despite these efforts, sometimes we face a significant shortage of medicine, and in some cases, the medicine is completely unavailable. On the other hand, the price of medicines has unfortunately increased between 50 and 100%.

Referring to the multifold increase in the price of some items needed by children, he added: For example, a type of powdered milk or milk for children, which used to cost about 260 thousand tomans, has now reached about 1 million 600 to 1 million 700 thousand tomans. This price increase puts heavy pressure on families.

Emphasizing that health problems are not limited to medicine, he said: "Today, we have the worst and most serious problems in the field of medical equipment and medical consumables." Even in some hospitals, whose names I refuse to mention, when a patient comes for hospitalization, they tell him to prepare the sheets, blankets and clothes he needs and bring them with him; That too in a government hospital. This situation shows that there are serious problems in the field of providing items and equipment needed by patients.

Shahriari said: That's why we want to meet with the doctor, what are they going to do? Talks are different from what is going on in reality.

The need to directly inform the president of health problems

Shahriari, in response to the question, does the president not know about the problems in the health field due to his medical history? He said: He may not have the opportunity to know all the details due to his many responsibilities, including issues related to the war and other problems of the country. I am sure that some issues may not have reached his direct knowledge.

He continued: "Mr. Medzikian is a person who is sensitive to health issues, and I believe that if these problems are brought to their attention, they will definitely follow up."

In the end, the chairman of the health and treatment commission of the parliament emphasized: "There are definitely problems, that's why we have requested to meet with the president in person and share with him some of the problems and realities of the health field through the words of people's representatives and people who are directly related to society's issues."