TEHRAN – A hub of medical tourism, Iran’s Shiraz has witnessed a five-fold influx in terms of overseas patients’ arrival in the past Persian year (ended in March 2024). Speaking to IRNA on Saturday, an official with the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences raised the curtains on the number of international patients who used medical services across government-owned hospitals during the previous year. Although these numbers do not account for the private sector health facilities, Mehrdad Sharifi pinpointed that more than 15,000 inbound patients have used medical services in the VIP sector and IPD (International Patients Department).
He further elaborated that 27 infirmaries, located within the city, are actively engaged in the medical tourism sphere, absorbing the overseas healthcare consumers. “Medical tourism is considered as a substantial funding source,” he continued. “First and foremost, to be spent on the health sector.
” Efforts are underway with an eye toward flourishing the health tourism sphere in Shiraz to the fullest extent, Sharifi added. According to available data, the number of medical tourists visiting the Islamic Republic is around one million people per annum. Experts say that choosing Iran as a destination for medical services offers multifaceted benefits, encompassing economic, quality medical services, and cultural dimensions that make the country a compelling destination for those seeking medical treatment abroad.
One of the most significant.
