Minister of Health and Medical Education said, “Over the next 10 years we should have 2.02 hospital beds per thousand people, that is about eight thousand beds for the population of Mashhad; so we’ll need an additional 50 percent to be added to the currently available beds.”

In an exclusive interview with Webda after inauguration of Akbar Hospital and MUMS Eye Bank, Dr. Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi said, “The number of eye banks in Iran is limited. MUMS Eye Bank is the 4th, after two banks in Tehran and one in Isfahan. This number is now almost enough for our country, however, and we should focus on collection of tissues to be transplanted and also try to improve international relationships.”

He pointed to the increased research efforts in ophthalmology and added, “Fortunately, colleagues in MUMS Eye Bank have taken all the required measures and are a few steps ahead of our other eye banks. This should be congratulated and appreciated and it will also have a significant impact on health tourism. Besides that, we have a greater and more valuable body – MUMS Department of Ophthalmology, with prominent experts and considerably advanced equipments; and yet another feature is a very good hospital. The collection of these capabilities cab serve lots of patients as an ophthalmology hub for Islamic countries and also non-Muslim neighboring countries.”

Dr. Hashemi said, “We are still concerned about the number of beds in Mashhad; and also hope we can replace some of the beds of Gha’em and Emam Reza hospitals, while recognizing all the efforts previously made in these hospitals, especially concerning hotelling. The number of hospital beds per thousand people should increase to 2.02 over the next 10 years which will amount to eight thousand beds for Mashhad. Thus, there is now a 50 percent shortage of hospital beds in this city, and on the other, 50% of the available beds are over 50 years old and should be replaced. We hope our social security partners will play a stronger role than before. We have enjoyed great support from Governor of Razavi Khorasan and appreciate it; and hope that in the future we can have at least 4 new, well-equipped and modern hospitals in the four corners of Mashhad, especially in less developed regions such as Seyyedi and Sarakhs Road. It is blatantly unfair that citizens have to go from Toroq to Ahmadabad Square in Mashhad to treat their diseases in Emam Reza and Gha’em hospitals.”

He pointed to the efforts of Ministry of Health toward the Economy of Resistance policy and emphasized, “During implementation of the Health System Reform Plan, 2,500 billion Tomans were paid to purchase domestically-made equipment from knowledge-based companies, and that means creating jobs and improving the quality of products of these companies and helping them to reach international markets. Regarding key services, companies have been founded which will negate imports in these areas within 10 years. Of course some products are made and some are imported, but we should try to avoid dependence in case of strategic products. This has happened for pharmaceuticals and we will also gradually advance toward up to 40% independence in medical equipments. For more than two decades now , no patients have had to travel abroad for treatment of eye diseases. And Mashhad is one of the centers which can help our country grow.”

At the end, Dr. Bahreyni, Vice President for Development of the University gave explanations about a mistaken report concerning cooperation of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Sharif University of Technology in the development of MUMS Eye Bank and said, “There was a misunderstanding by a newspaper, and I hereby announce that Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Sharif University of Technology made no contributions to MUMS projects, but Mashhad University of Medical Sciences carried out them in collaboration with the private sector.”