Uncertainty Over Medical Tariffs for Next Year; New Tariff Proposal Did Not Reach Government Board

Mahr News Agency reported the government's negligence in determining medical tariffs for the upcoming year, stating that despite the Supreme Health Insurance Council reaching an agreement on a proposed 46% increase in medical tariffs for 1403 about three months ago, these tariffs did not reach the last government meeting of the year 1402. Reza Lari-Pour, the Deputy for Technical and Supervision of the Medical System Organization of Iran, also told this news agency that the failure to approve the tariffs before the year's end raises suspicions that insurance companies might profit from delaying the announcement of the tariffs. According to reports, the 1403 tariffs were approved three months ago by the Supreme Health Insurance Council with a proposed 46% increase and were communicated to the Planning and Budget Organization with the Minister of Health's signature. At that time, the Deputy for Treatment of the Ministry of Health described the 46% increase in medical tariffs with the Supreme Health Insurance Council's approval for the next year as 'compensating for the lag behind inflation' and a 'long-standing demand' of this profession. Saeed Karimi, on Tuesday, February 6, criticized the opposition to the tariff increase as 'biased' and stated that these individuals should understand that low medical tariffs mean 'digging into people's pockets.' According to this health ministry official, medical tariffs have been low in recent years while all costs have increased with rising inflation rates. This increase in medical tariffs and resistance to raising salaries comes at a time when treatment costs in Iran threaten even the middle class. In this regard, 'Tejarat News' reported on October 11 this year that government officials also acknowledge that the illness of a family member with certain incurable diseases can lead to the entire family falling below the poverty line. Protests by nurses in Saqez and Sanandaj, the assistant to Ali Khamenei 'in military affairs' deemed the migration of 'specialist doctors' as 'unacceptable.' Patients are left in limbo; the Inspection Organization stated that 'cash visit fees' are illegal; the Health Commission of the Parliament noted that only half of the doctors have 'card readers.' Medical tariffs in Iran; the visit fee for a 'super-specialist doctor' in the country is three dollars. Protesting nurses in five provinces of Iran demanded the resignation of the 'incompetent minister.' The Nursing House criticized the Parliament and the government simultaneously with a 100% increase in doctors' bonuses. The Health Insurance Organization reported that 60% of treatment costs are paid 'out of pocket' by the people.