Home care will soon be covered by insurance as an important service in Iran's health system. This change could be a significant step towards reducing treatment costs for families and facilitating access to nursing and medical services.
Facilitating access to medical care
Home care services include a wide range of medical, nursing, rehabilitation, and supportive services. These services range from medication injections, dressing changes, and vital sign monitoring to caring for the elderly and patients needing special care. Rahmatollah Memari, the head of the Association of Home Nursing Services, states about this plan: The details of this plan have not yet been communicated to us, but this action could help reduce hospitalization costs.
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Reducing financial pressure on the health system
Memari further stated that the cost of hospitalization in public hospitals averages between 10 to 20 million tomans per night, and up to 70 million tomans for private hospitals. However, if a patient can receive subsequent care at home under insurance after receiving initial services in the hospital, family costs will be significantly reduced.
He also emphasized that insuring home care services will not only benefit patients but can also reduce financial pressure on the health system and insurance companies. Patients who do not need hospitalization can continue their treatment process using standard home services, which will help facilitate access to medical services.
For the first time, the activities of home nursing centers have been organized in a legal and official framework, and these centers are required to provide services based on specific standards. Memari pointed out the existence of unauthorized centers in this field and stressed the need for closer monitoring of these centers, stating: "About 80 to 85 percent of the centers and individuals operating in this field are unauthorized."
These changes in the health system can help improve the quality of services and reduce treatment costs for patients, keeping hopes alive for a more efficient health system.
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