Iran to relaunch and expand Family Physician Programme 

Iran’s Ministry of Health has announced the relaunch of its Family Physician Programme, beginning on 22 June, in cities and villages with populations under 20,000. This is reported by Tehran Times, a partner of TV BRICS.

Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarqandi stated that this initial phase will serve as a foundation for nationwide expansion. The initiative, originally introduced in 2005, aims to improve healthcare accessibility in rural communities and small towns through organised medical referral systems and consistent healthcare coverage.

Key reforms include redesigning patient pathways, strengthening the referral process, and enhancing the broader healthcare network. Due to the programme’s scale and complexity, Zafarqandi proposed establishing a national management headquarters to oversee its development and execution.

The Family Physician Programme offers a range of services including medical, dental, mental health, midwifery, nutrition, pharmaceutical, laboratory, and imaging care. In rural areas, the model assigns one physician per 3,300 residents and one midwife per 5,200 people.