Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

Service footnote

Chancellor"s Monthly Note

Note No. 2

In the name of Allah the most Compassionate, the Merciful

We were blessed with the arrival of the holy month of Ramadhan in the final days of Ordibehest 1397(Iranian calendar)- 3^rd week of  May 2018. First and foremost I deem it necessary to thank Allah, the Merciful who made Ramadhan, the month of mercy, a sign of his compassion. Regretfully in the midst of era of technology we witness social misconduct such as telling lie, gossiping, slandering, and tarnishing other’s reputation, we need to follow the teachings of Islam and the manner of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and infallible Imams(S) and take spiritual benefits from the holy month of Ramadan. The supreme leader beautifully portrayed the holy month of Ramadhan as the paradise of God in the midst of burning hell of material life. Therefore, it is necessary to embark on self-purification and to diminish egocentricity and too much caring just about one’s personal or party interest. I wish your worship and prayers would be fully accepted,and with the blessings of the prayer of those who pray and the fasting of those who fast may Allah make the streams of morality and dignity flow in every corner of  our personal, social, and office life.

In continuation of establishing relationship with costumers in and out of the organization and continued exchange of information with masters of thinking and wisdom, I take the opportunity to review the most important issues in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences(ZAUMS) in Ordibehesht 1397 (Iranian calendar) – 21^st April to 21^stMay 2017. Deputy Ministers for  Health and Curative Affairs of the Ministry of Health of Islamic Republic of Iran has embarked on taking steps to define and redefine diagnostic and treatment standards in hospitals and the level of insurance support for services, prescription and use of medications and they have set new criteria for Family Physician  Plan and the Referral System. However, given the shortage and lack of resources to pay the wages of our colleagues, implementations of these instructions might be deemed a turning back and failure in the Health Transformation  Plan by certain individuals.

In response to those who possibly cast doubt on its success, it should be mentioned that these standards  have been defined in the framework of legal duties in high order plans and documents of the country including 6^th  Economic and Social Development Plan of Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as health economics  criteria. Furthermore, considering a number of social necessities and scientific realities, conducting these revisions has turned into a vital, irreversible and inevitable action.  In line with these objectives, standards on 100 common services has been compiled by relevant specialists including members of each specialist board and these standards have been mandated. Based on successful experience of countries that are pioneers in health services, implementation of these standards will result in optimal management of resources in health domain. Whereas health domain experts and specialists can be considered as the most valuable assets and resources in health section.

The optimization of management also includes human resources and safeguarding our colleagues specialized ability, time and energy is one of the most important advantages of the plan. Moreover, linking new packages of services with electronic file  of health and referral system can yield bright results and countless positive impacts on the health status of our fellow citizens as well as satisfaction of our people and treatment staff. To do so, and in order to manage resources and observe the agreed upon level of payment by insurance organization, the Ministry of Health and the Iranian Health  Insurance Organization, signed a memorandum of understanding which guarantees observing the maximum level of allocated credits of purchasing services on the basis of the Iranian Health  Insurance statement in hospitals on one hand, and collecting ½ credits on account and in lieu of documents received by the Iranian Health Insurance Organization and against up to 20^th of the following month. Considering the fact that success in implementation of this plan ,which can be considered as supplementary to or continuation of the Health System Transformation Plan, entails cooperation of all relevant individuals including hardworking members of treatment team comprising of physicians, nurses, midwives and other members of health sector.

I urge deputies for health and treatment, and president of respective hospitals to adopt a convincing approach and get the details, formation stage of referral system and stratification of services to take the form of a compiled training and information dissemination program and make it available to all who play a role  in rendering services in the university and take into consideration its advantages and challenges.

First week of Ordibehesht 1397 (Iranian Calendar) - 21^st to 27^th April, 2018 coincided with Health Week.  The main objectives of commemorating it can be summarized in three axes:

1. Enhancement of people’s participation in health system programs through increasing their health knowledge and literacy. Optimal use of facilities and health and treatment services, modification of life style and  promotion of self-care can be considered as evidence of participation.

2. Promotion of intersectoral   cooperation with the aim of clarification, elaboration, and focus  the role of  all executive entities and government and non- governmental organizations which are of some relevance to health.

3. Introduction and presentation of all achievements of health, treatment and medical education system on the path to enhancement of the quality of services in addition to the above objectives, every  year a theme  which have been inspired from the theme  of the World Health Organization,  is announced by the Ministry of Health  as the basis for different activities of Health Week and for the theme for the current year,  which coincides with the 40^th anniversary of ALMA - ATA declaration  and introduction of strategies of primary health cares, is “Universal Health  coverage for all”.

Historical evidence and records is indicative of the fact that establishment of health-care system in incipient years of revolution on one hand, and implementation of the Health System Transformation Plan in 11^th and 12^th government on the other hand, played an undeniable role in expanding health e coverage and increasing people’s access to services. It cannot be denied that development in health – care sector of Sistan and Baluchestan, because of depth of impoverishment rooted in the past, is highly necessary as compared to other provinces, in a way that currently 160 giant and medium- sized  civil projects including rural health centers, comprehensive rural and urban health center , urban health posts, Road Emergency Posts, speciality clinics, rural delivery facilities, hospital emergency wards, cancer screening centers and delivery blocks    is under construction in the region under the coverage of the university.

Therefore, Islamic Republic of Iran in general and Sistan and Baluchestan province in particular, can be cited as a complete picture of health  coverage for all and a clear example of “revolution in access to services” and publicizing the achievements was considered as a moral and professional obligation by our colleagues.  Holding seminar to express gratitude to health veterans in the province and inauguration of the university’s honors and treasures Hall was also in line with objective. Holding the first meeting of Health Assembly of Sistan and Baluchestan was an important event in Ordibehesht 1397. In this assembly which was attended by Deputy Minister  for Social Affairs and a large number of religious figures  of congregation and Friday prayers, head of offices and health related governmental and non-governmental organizations and different walks of life, the most important strategies for socializing health  were discussed. In this meeting water health document and food security of province were discussed and approved.

Several meetings were held in Planning and Management Organization and Kerman University o Medical Sciences as the secretariat of the 8^th region.  The most important outcome of these meetings was full agreement of theH.E. Minister of Health  with implementation of infrastructures development plans in Sistan and Baluchestan. Undoubtedly with the support of the Ministry of Health and serious attempts and follow up on the part of managers and colleagues in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, the grounds will  be paved for fulfillment of historical pledge made by Dr. Hashemi regarding total eradication  of impoverishment from the health domain of Sistan and Baluchestan by the end of 12^th government and the honor of using this opportunity is another golden leave in the thick book of health honors in Sistan and Baluchestan.