TEHRAN – Iran hosted some 1.1 million medical tourists from different countries during the past Iranian calendar year 1401 (ended on March 20), an official with the Ministry of Health has said.

The number of international patients in hospitals is approximately one percent today, a trend that is increasing as it earns the country more money than any other source, Soleyman Heidari explained on Friday.

However, the capacity is expected to increase to 20 percent by the Iranian calendar year 1404 (March 2025), he mentioned.

Moreover, the health tourism infrastructure in the country is developing, which leads to an increase more medical tourists, he added.

According to available data, Iran hosts an average of one million medical tourists each year. “About one million medical tourists, mainly from the neighboring countries, arrive in Iran annually,” Mohammadreza Tarjoman, who presides over the Health Ministry’s tourism office, said last April.

“The majority of inbound medical passengers come from the neighboring countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan,” the official said. Talking about hospitals and clinics, he said a selection of 200 Iranian medical centers have permission to accept foreign patients.

Experts believe medical tourism in Iran is a win-win opportunity both for the country and foreign patients, as they are offered affordable yet quality treatment services and the country gains considerable foreign currency. Amongst Iran’s trump cards are the presence of credible surgeons and physicians, cutting-edge medical technologies, high-tech medicine and diverse specializations, super affordable procedures, and finally its hospitable people.

Iran seeks to exceed its yearly medical travelers to around two million in [calendar year] 1404 (March 2025-March 2026).

ABU/AM