TEHRAN Chairman of the Expediency Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Wednesday received President of Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) Panos Englezos. Englezos briefed Rafsanjani on the TIF programs worldwide to help thalassemic patients and prevent the disease and said for the time being 250 millions are thalassemia carriers majority of whom are living in the Middle East, Far East and Africa. Englezos said the TIF is working in direct coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) and appreciated Iran's cooperation with the WHO. He said the Iranian government has made eye-catching contribution to help fight thalassemia and helped well those suffering from the disease.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani thanked the humanitarian programs of the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) worldwide and said the thalassemic patients are leading a hard life and the international health organizations should provide the patients with health services free of charge. Rafsanjani said the Iranian government has made considerable investments to help those suffering from special diseases and prevent thalassemia. He said the international health organizations including the TIF are expected to carry out comprehensive programs to support the patients worldwide by offering insurance services to them.

(IRNA)