TEHRAN — Iran’s healthcare reform plan is available to Islamic and regional countries, Health Minister Hassan Qazizadeh-Hashemi said on Tuesday.

Organization twice has led to a decrease in medical and health-related expenses for Iranians, Qazizadeh-Hashemi added, IRIB reported.

He further highlighted that “as Iran’s Health Minister I declare our readiness to share our achievements and experiences with world leaders and my colleagues, active in healthcare sector, worldwide.”

The healthcare reform plan kicked off on May 4, 2014 with the main goals of decreasing the out-of-pocket expenses for the patients, promoting natural birth, and supporting underprivileged patients suffering from rare or incurable diseases.

One of the most important changes occurred within the framework of the healthcare reform plan was the reduction of out-of-pocket expenses for those living in rural areas to less than 3 percent and their insurance coverage free of charge.

Some 11 million people living in underprivileged areas are now under the coverage of health insurance services within the framework of healthcare reform plan, and furthermore, the number of cesarean sections to deliver babies have dropped by 11 percent in Iran since launching the healthcare reform plan in the country.

MQ/MG