TEHRAN- Iranian Health Minister Hassan Qazizdeh Hashemi says that there must be a health facility for each 12,500 citizens, IRNA reported on Thursday.

Qazizdeh Hashemi made the remarks on the sidelines of his visit to Imam Reza Health Facility in the rural area of Qiamdasht in the central district of Rey County.

The minister also acknowledged that the number of hospital beds must increase and that the working hours of facilities should be extended round the clock in the county so that citizens won’t need to commute to Tehran for medical treatment.

He believes that the most important problem that people face in the area has always been in the health sector and expressed hope to have it solved very soon.

In another report given by ISNA, health minister said on the same day during his trip to Pakdasht County in the southeast Tehran that when he took office 23 months ago his main concern was to promote healthcare services in the remote and border areas.

“However it is hard to believe that counties around Tehran are far more deprived than border areas,” he lamented.

Overall healthcare services are not satisfactory around Tehran so much so that for every 100,000 people there is not even one hospital bed, he said.

The medical facilities are not enough in these regions and they offer very limited daily services.

Since appointed health minister, Qazizdeh Hashemi has taken great steps to reform the health system. Under his leadership most Iranians have been granted health insurance.

According to opinion polls, he is considered as the most popular minister in the Rouhani cabinet, even superseding Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.