TEHRAN – The Islamic Azad University will be holding a national conference on health tourism.

The event is scheduled to take place at the university’s West Tehran Branch from Feb. 21 to 23, 2024, Mehr reported.

"The event is of high importance due to Iran’s high status in West Asia’s medical tourism, which is a key and revenue-generating sector," said university president Mohammad Narimani-Rad.

Apart from cultural attractions, Iran enjoys a wide variety of pristine natural sites that provide a suitable ground for health tourism, he said.

However, further development in the medical and health sectors requires research-oriented and practical solutions, Narimani-Rad added.

Narimani-Rad emphasized the country's urgent need for expansion in the tourism industry, stating: “Despite scientific capabilities and the availability of specialized human resources in various medical and therapeutic fields, as well as the existence of health facilities such as mineral springs, salt domes, and sand dunes, coupled with the scarcity of practical research in this field, Tehran West Branch of Islamic Azad University, took the initiative to hold its first comprehensive national conference on health tourism.”

He mentioned that the deadline for paper submissions for this conference is January 10, 2024.

Iran was ranked 46th destination for medical tourism [within the 2020-2021 Medical Tourism Index]. According to available data, patients from neighboring countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Oman, Bahrain, Armenia, and Tajikistan, constitute the lion’s share of medical tourists arriving in the Islamic Republic.

Experts say 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.

The Islamic Republic is branded globally as an affordable destination for health and medical tourism. Credible surgeons and physicians, cutting-edge medical technologies, high-tech medicine and diverse specializations, affordable procedures, and finally, its hospitable people, are considered Iran’s trump card when it comes to medical tourism.

AFM