TEHRAN – Tehran will be playing host to a national conference on health tourism from Feb. 21 to 23.

Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, the deputy tourism minister, on Wednesday, announced that the upcoming seminar is set to provide an opportunity for researchers and stakeholders to benefit from the latest research findings.

He added that researchers in health tourism have until February 9 to submit their research work to the secretariat of this event.

Shalbafian emphasized that the goal of organizing this scientific event is to create synergy and strengthen cooperation between the government sector, private sector stakeholders, and academics.

Scheduled to take place from February 21 to 23, the event is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Intelligence, the Trade Development Organization, the National Medical System Organization, the Islamic Azad University, specialized organizations, and other stakeholders.

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