TEHRAN — The Ministry of Health will support all non-governmental groups (NGOs) active in the health sector, Health Minister Saeed Namaki has said.

All NGOs making efforts to offer healthcare services will be directly supervised and supported by the ministry, IRNA news agency quoted Namaki as saying on Monday.

Supervising and supporting NGOs will most importantly help them in obtaining necessary permits in providing healthcare services to the public, Namaki added.

Moreover, in case NGOs make investments the ministry will provide them with medical equipment at government rate, he highlighted.

According to IRNA news agency there are 723 NGOs active in health sector. Additionally 422 charity institution as well as 4 national network including NGOs active in fields such as HIV/Aids, cancer, addiction, and rehabilitation services are up and running in the country.

In the Iranian calendar year of 1395 (March 2016-March 2017) philanthropist have contributed some 15 trillion rials (nearly $357 million) to health sector. In addition in the Iranian calendar year of 1396 (March 2017-March 2018) donations made by the philanthropist in this sector increased to 17 trillion rials (nearly $405 million).

Furthermore, philanthropists have made 1.4 trillion rials (nearly $33 million) donation to reconstruct health facilities and hospitals in Kermanshah province, western Iran, which hit by a 7.3 earthquake in November 2017.

MQ/MG