A meeting was held between the officials of Khorasan Razavi and the CEO of the Health Insurance Organization of Iran to discuss the financial problems of pharmacies and the claims of pharmacists at the Khorasan Razavi Governorate. This session was aimed at preventing disruptions in healthcare services and improving the financial situation of pharmacies.
Financial Challenges in the Health System
Gholamhossein Mozaffari, the Governor of Khorasan Razavi, Mohammad Mehdi Nasiri, the CEO of the Health Insurance Organization of Iran, the president and vice presidents of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, representatives from the Medical Council and the Pharmacists Association attended this meeting. Delays in the payment of insurance claims, reduced liquidity of pharmacies, increased costs of supplying medicines and medical equipment, and the gap between approved tariffs and actual costs of services were among the challenges raised in this session.
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Budget Deficit and Its Impact on Healthcare Services
Mohammad Mehdi Nasiri pointed out the gap between financial resources and actual costs of the health system during this meeting, stating: "At the national level, about 8 to 8.5 trillion tomans are distributed monthly, but considering the inflation rate, the actual monthly cost reaches 18 to 20 trillion tomans." He also mentioned that the specific conditions of Khorasan Razavi, with a coverage of 75% of the province's population and a high volume of pilgrims, puts significant pressure on the health system. Nasiri emphasized the need for strategic decisions to manage this large budget deficit and highlighted the importance of timely financial resource provision for healthcare centers and pharmacies.
Gholamhossein Mozaffari also stressed the necessity of resolving liquidity issues and paying overdue debts, calling for cooperation from responsible agencies to prevent a crisis in the supply chain of medicines and medical equipment. He said: "We must coordinate with the Health Insurance Organization and use credit tools and bonds to eliminate financial bottlenecks and secure the necessary liquidity in the short term so that healthcare services to citizens are not disrupted."
One positive outcome of this meeting was the cancellation of the pharmacists' protest in Mashhad. This decision was made after the governorate intervened in the matter and initiated the process of pursuing claims through legal channels. Officials believe that continued negotiations and inter-agency cooperation can help improve the financial situation of pharmacies and ensure the necessary healthcare services for citizens.
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