A consultative meeting on the development of health tourism was held in the Office of the University President, attended by Dr. Soroush, President of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), a representative of the Iraqi Consulate in Kermanshah, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kermanshah, and representatives of Tadbir Salamat.
According to the University’s Public Relations Office, the meeting was convened to explore strategies for attracting more international patients, particularly Iraqi patients, facilitating their access to healthcare services, strengthening international cooperation in healthcare, and promoting the specialized and subspecialized medical capabilities of healthcare facilities across the province.
During the meeting, Tadbir Salamat presented a report on its activities, achievements, and existing capacities in health tourism. Participants also discussed opportunities to expand cooperation among the University, Tadbir Salamat, the Iraqi Consulate, and the local representative office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
One of the key topics was the use of the Iraqi Consulate’s and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ capacities to promote the province’s medical capabilities and disseminate information about specialized and subspecialized services available at healthcare facilities authorized to admit international patients through International Patient Departments (IPDs). Participants also examined strategies to streamline guidance, referral, and admission procedures for international patients, particularly Iraqi citizens, at university-affiliated healthcare facilities.
The meeting further addressed the establishment of coordinated mechanisms for registering and managing international patient information, as well as strengthening communication between healthcare facilities and relevant institutions. Participants emphasized the need for closer coordination among stakeholders to facilitate international patients’ access to healthcare services and enhance the quality of care provided.
Dr. Soroush, President of KUMS, underscored the importance of strengthening intersectoral cooperation and leveraging existing capacities to expand health tourism. Enhancing engagement with diplomatic institutions, promoting the medical capabilities of the University’s healthcare facilities, and creating favorable conditions for delivering high-quality services to international patients were among the key priorities discussed.
The participants also highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts among KUMS, Tadbir Salamat, the Iraqi Consulate, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ representative office in Kermanshah. Such cooperation can play a significant role in promoting the province’s healthcare capabilities, facilitating international patient referrals, improving the quality of services provided to international patients, and expanding cross-border healthcare cooperation with Iraq.
Given Kermanshah Province’s healthcare capacities and its strategic regional ties with Iraq, the development of health tourism offers significant opportunities to strengthen medical cooperation, enable international patients to benefit from specialized healthcare services, and expand international engagement in the health sector.
Tadbir Salamat is also working to strengthen the infrastructure for health tourism and expand medical cooperation with Iraq by fostering intersectoral partnerships, promoting the specialized capabilities of healthcare facilities, and facilitating the delivery of services to international patients.