TEHRAN –Salamat Health Insurance Organization has increased the number of services for the treatment of infertile couples.

These services include 66 medicines and 29 items of medical equipment (which were previously 63 and 28 respectively), seven types of medical imaging services, such as diagnostic ultrasounds, and ovarian reserve testing for insured couples, IRNA reported.

Moreover, 16 services in genetic tests for women with habitual or recurrent abortion, and 45 services including fertility preparation are also covered by health insurance.

Those insured can receive outpatient services including medicine, tests, imaging services, physician office visits, and inpatient services.

In government centers, 90 percent of the treatment costs which are based on subsidized rates are covered, while in private centers, 90 percent of the costs which are based on free rates are covered.

Some 63,000 infertile couples have been so far registered in the health insurance system; more couples are expected to be registered and identified to be able to use the services.

Variety of services

The services include different items of medical equipment and drugs for special diseases, 56 laboratory services, 20 surgical services, four subspecialty treatments, and seven medical imaging services, Mohammad-Esmaeil Kameli, an official with the Organization, said in November 2023.

The health insurance organization covers nearly 45 million people in the country, of whom 12 million receive free health insurance coverage.

Infertility treatment

In 2022, the deputy head of the Organization said a total of 5 trillion rials (around $10 million) had been spent on infertility treatment and population growth in the first six months of the year which began on March 21.

Iran’s universal public health insurance scheme, known as Salamat Health Insurance, covers hospitalization, para-clinical, and outpatient services, including doctor’s visits, radiology, lab tests, and medication costs at any public hospital affiliated with the Ministry of Health.

Mehdi Rezaei stated that some 56 government centers, 44 private centers, and about 30 independent and non-independent public centers are contracting parties with Health insurance.

By a decree issued by President Ebrahim Raisi, the "Law on Family and Youth Support" approved by the Majlis (Iranian Parliament) was notified to the Ministry of Health and the Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs.

The Guardian Council approved the law on November 17 to implement a population growth and family support plan for 7 years to change the declining trend of childbearing.

The plan stipulates health insurance for infertile couples, providing services and facilities to working women, providing health and nutrition support packages to mothers and children, providing educational opportunities for student mothers, providing livelihood support to families, and ongoing medical services to pregnant women.

Other significant services

The number of health centers that have concluded contracts with the Health Insurance Organization has increased by seven percent in the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) compared with the past year.

More than 53,000 centers have concluded contracts with Health Insurance Organization so far in the current year, IRNA quoted Keivan Tajbakhsh, an official with the Organization, as saying.

Health insurance contracts have been signed with government, non-government, private, and charity centers for services. Health Insurance Organization, together with the Ministry of Health, have provided significant services in different sectors.

Providing free insurance for low-income families, paying the medical expenses of infertile couples, providing services to the disabled, supporting patients with rare diseases, and providing services to foreign nationals are among the provided services so far, IRNA reported.

The government has adopted policies to identify uninsured people. In this regard, the Health Insurance Organization in cooperation and interaction with the Social Security Organization was assigned to identify uninsured people, who are often from the vulnerable groups of society.

Accordingly, some 90 percent of hospitalization costs and around 70 percent of outpatient treatment costs are covered by insurance.

In this regard, by allocating 50 trillion rials (about $100 million), 107 rare diseases are covered by the health insurance fund, and with the cooperation of universities, a lion’s share of treatment costs are paid by the government.

So far, more than 31 rare and special diseases, including high blood pressure, MS, type 2 diabetes, hemodialysis, thalassemia, kidney transplant, hemophilia, diabetic retinopathy, type 1 diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and autism, have been identified in the system of the Health Insurance Organization.

MT/MG