Member of Parliament: 60% of Hospitals in Iran are Dilapidated

A member of the Health and Treatment Commission of the Parliament states that 60% of hospitals in Iran are "old and dilapidated" and that a new organization should be established for the renovation and improvement of health centers in the country. On Wednesday, April 23, in a report by the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency, Haydar Ali Abadi pointed to the statistics of dilapidated medical centers in Iran, adding that if the renovation of these centers is not prioritized, "we should expect irreparable damages after a crisis occurs." Mr. Abadi, who represents Isfahan in the Parliament, noted that there are only four new hospitals in his province, while the other hospitals are "old and dilapidated." He also criticized past governments for their "neglect" in the reconstruction and renovation of dilapidated medical centers and added that officials in the Ministry of Health did not take proposals to address this issue "seriously." However, this representative stated that the Ministry of Health cannot alone carry out the renovation and improvement of medical centers, "but rather a cohesive and powerful organization should rebuild and renovate all dilapidated hospitals." According to Abadi, "Considering that most provinces in the country are at risk of crisis and may suffer heavy human losses after any incident, the renovation and improvement of medical centers should be prioritized." He called for the establishment of a working group to address the issue of dilapidated hospitals. Previously, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran reported that 30% of the country's population lives in dilapidated and worn-out areas referred to as "disorganized fabrics" of cities, expressing concern. According to Mohammad Saeed Izadi, out of 130,000 hectares of areas classified as "disorganized fabric," 56,000 hectares are inefficient urban fabrics; 48,000 hectares are informal settlements, and 25,000 hectares are historical fabrics. He warned of a "serious threat" from natural hazards leading to human disasters as a consequence of the continued development of incorrect urbanization patterns. In a report in 2014, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development of Iran expressed concern about serious risks arising from a lack of access to essential services, especially during earthquakes, floods, fires, and similar incidents, in areas like Tehran or other cities in Iran.