BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- An Algerian media delegation, led by the General Director and owner of the online channel Dzair Tube, Mr. Maamar Gani, embarked on a journey to the Islamic Republic of Iran upon an invitation from the Iranian Embassy in Algeria. The purpose of this visit was to explore the achievements of this country across various political, economic, cultural, and scientific fields despite the unjust economic blockade imposed on it due to American arrogance.
Despite facing economic hardships, the Iranian nation has managed to shine brightly, thanks to its steadfast determination and political and intellectual principles. Iran has made significant scientific and technological advancements, allowing it to conquer top positions globally in numerous fields. Moreover, it has achieved self-sufficiency in essential materials, a feat that eludes economically prosperous nations. Iran has also built a network of trade and economic relations with numerous countries, focusing on developing its productive economic sectors, utilizing its workforce, and leveraging its natural and human resources. Despite America’s pressure tactics, which aimed to break Iran or force it to abandon its honorable stances, they have proven unsuccessful in breaking the country or deterring it from its principled positions.
The delegation received an exceptionally warm and enthusiastic reception from the Iranian side, where they held meetings and working sessions with senior officials, including the official spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nasser Kanani, the former minister and director of the newspaper Ettelaat, Mr. Abbas Salehi, and the director of the IRNA news agency and president of the Asia-Pacific News Agencies Organization (OANA), Mr. Ali Naderi. The delegation was given the opportunity to closely acquaint themselves with Iran’s achievements in various fields and to exchange views and experiences with their Iranian counterparts in the field of media. The success of the visit surpassed all expectations.
The Algerian guests praised the unwavering determination of the Iranian people under their wise leadership, which has enabled the country to chart its future in a different manner, relying on its own capabilities and resources, including the human capital comprising scholars, professors, engineers, doctors, and others. Tehran has dispensed with foreign expertise and accomplished feats with the efforts of its own citizens, achieving what other advanced nations have been unable to accomplish.
From this perspective, the idea emerged to launch a special series entitled “Iran Through Algerian Eyes,” aimed at shedding light on the achievements of the Republic across various sectors, thanks to its development of the concept of resilient economy. This approach has spared it from falling into the deep pit of economic deficit and lagging growth in all fields. Iran also witnesses scientific, technological, and academic excellence, with Sharif University of Technology, internationally recognized for its degrees, ranking ninth globally in the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
On the agricultural front, Iran boasts self-sufficiency in various products such as wheat, rice, pistachios, saffron, barley, corn, cotton, tea, fruits, potatoes, spices, citrus fruits, beans, cumin, raisins, and walnuts. Regarding industrial production, studies indicate that the Iranian economy possesses all the raw materials required by industries.
Furthermore, the Republic has not overlooked its commitment to social justice, evident through the provision of education and healthcare, both of which are free. Health ministries and institutions provide healthcare services free of charge to Iranians and heavily support the development of the healthcare sector. This substantial support has fostered fertility in scientific production in the health sector, resulting in remarkably high rates, especially considering Iran’s significant progress in tackling stubborn diseases, cancer, organ transplantation, and ophthalmic surgery. This is not coincidental nor surprising, as Iran has long been and continues to be a pioneer in the field of medicine. The law book authored by the Iranian physician and philosopher Ibn Sina ‘Avicenna’ has been taught in major scientific centers in Europe for nearly seven hundred years.
We begin our series with the medical field, which has witnessed advancements on various levels, including the production of pharmaceuticals, infertility treatment, organ transplantation, stem cell research, and medical equipment manufacturing. These developments have propelled Tehran to achieve global recognition, emerging as a scientific hub in the region. Tehran provides medical services to millions of Iranian patients and others who come from all corners, contributing significantly to medical tourism. Through medical tourism, the country generates approximately one billion dollars annually in foreign exchange.
According to the Iranian Minister of Health, the number of medical tourists in 2023 reached approximately 1.2 million from 64 different nationalities. Besides ordinary citizens, medical tourism also attracts prominent politicians from various countries. Moreover, its cost is relatively low compared to other countries. According to a report from Tehran Medical Tribune, a website specializing in medical tourism information, medical expenses in Iran represent only 5% of those in Europe and Turkey. To learn about the costs of various procedures or medical tourism trips, starting from pre-travel consultations to post-operation follow-ups and departure from the country, you can browse the websites of hospitals and medical centers online. These medical facilities offer diverse packages of services, including consultations, visa assistance, airport reception, translation services, transportation, accommodation in hotels based on the patient’s choice, as well as radiology and initial screenings, followed by the operation, post-operation care, and assistance to the airport.
Health tourism in Iran encompasses three sectors:
– Medical tourism
– Physical therapy tourism
– Recreational tourism
Applying for an Iranian visa is also very easy, and upon arrival, travelers find the hospital staff waiting for them, providing excellent care and offering all services including translation, accommodation, and transportation.
Before delving into Iran’s achievements in the medical field, which have positioned it as a leader in medical tourism, it’s worth noting that the Algerian delegation visited the Nikan Specialty Hospital, where they witnessed firsthand the remarkable medical advancements.
This medical complex, constructed in 2010, spans approximately 35,000 square meters in northeast Tehran. The hospital comprises sixteen floors, equipped with state-of-the-art medical and scientific devices, modern communication facilities (telephone, internet, TV channels for movies and news), and advanced central heating and cooling systems.
The selection of the site for the specialty hospital with hotel-like services at the foothills of the Alborz Mountains in northeast Tehran was not random. This area is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and clean air that revitalizes patients, who have direct views of the towering Tehran mountains and panoramic cityscapes below. Moreover, its strategic location makes it easily accessible and straightforward to reach.
The medical center operates its services around the clock, seven days a week, and provides social amenities such as restaurants, cafes, and parking facilities. In addition to this hospital, Iran boasts a large number of medical facilities including the Noor Eye Hospital, Pasteurno Specialty Hospital, Razi Hospital, and the Specialized Center for Infertility Treatment and In vitro Fertilization (IVF) for children. Iran ranks tenth globally in this field.
Additionally, Tehran leads the Middle East region and holds advanced global rankings in organ transplantation, including liver, bone, and lung transplants, as well as corneal transplantation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), infertility treatment, neurosurgery, spinal surgeries, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) procedures such as cochlear implants, head and neck surgeries, and various forms of cosmetic surgery and tissue rejuvenation.
Furthermore, it has ranked 15th globally and first in the Middle East in the process of retinal network synthesis. An exemplary case is the surgery performed on patient Farahnaz Gholideh Fetrat, enabling her to regain vision after 12 years of blindness, allowing her to see her daughter. The supervising surgeon highlighted that this procedure can also be performed on individuals suffering from absolute blindness due to retinal damage caused by various accidents, such as car crashes.
The Alkhanadeq website highlights how Iran competes with global powers in the field of stem cells, where it ranks second globally. Additionally, Iran excels in treating chronic diseases, emerging as a pioneer in producing artificial bones using 3D printing technology. These artificial bones closely resemble real bones in terms of shape and physiological characteristics to a very high degree.
Amidst the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Republic didn’t stand idly by, waiting for salvation from other countries. Instead, it managed to produce an effective vaccine against the deadly virus, manufacturing approximately 16 million doses of it. Iran ranked 12th globally in scientific articles produced about this virus. Additionally, the Republic distinguishes itself by possessing the largest reserve of umbilical cord stem cells in the region, with around 170,000 samples stored in Karaj, west of Tehran, surpassing even the Zionist entity. Its name is included in the list of the top ten countries in this field. Moreover, Iran succeeded in producing a device to measure olfactory senses through brain signals, establishing the largest ion therapy medical center in the West Asian region, exporting nanotechnology to over 49 countries, and manufacturing drugs used in organ transplantation, generating approximately 20 million dollars annually.
Despite the forty-year embargo, the Islamic Republic of Iran managed to build the first pharmaceutical city in the Middle East in the city of Arak, located in the heart of the country. It achieved a self-sufficiency rate of 97% in its pharmaceutical needs, eliminating the reliance on foreign medications. Thus, the Republic ranks first in the Middle East and seventh globally in the pharmaceutical industry.
Furthermore, the state has embarked on exporting its pharmaceuticals and medical products to more than 55 countries. The focus on this sector has led to the emergence of over 860 pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing companies, now registering a growth of 60 percent in the number of producers compared to 2019. In 2020, medical equipment exports to the five continents reached a value of $30 million.
Iran has also succeeded in producing and exporting nanomedicines to various Asian countries, and numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding have been signed to initiate exports to European countries. All of this would not have been possible without the efforts of Iranian medical professionals, numbering over 140,000 Iranian doctors, compared to 14,000 during the Shah’s rule, including 6,000 foreign doctors practicing in only eight specialties.
It is worth mentioning that statistics indicate that Iranian women constitute 60% of graduates with a master’s degree in the medical field, and 52% of doctoral graduates are also women. Currently, the number of female physicians in Iran has risen to 71,000, which is 35 times more than it was at the beginning of the Islamic Revolution. In 1983, the number of female specialist physicians did not exceed 3, whereas now there are around 1600 female consultants.
In addition, the Republic boasts numerous Iranian laboratory nanoproduct manufacturing companies, along with the largest laboratory for producing anti-cancer drugs in the Middle East. It has excelled in producing liver, heart, and vessel cells at the laboratory level using stem cells for the repair and reconstruction of the liver and heart, marking a pioneering achievement in the Middle East.
As examples of medical excellence in Iran, we mention organ transplantation services, which have exceeded 53,880 transplant surgeries, according to the Iranian Organ Transplantation Association, making it the most advanced regionally in this field.
For three consecutive years, Namazi Hospital in Shiraz has secured the top spot globally for liver transplant surgeries. Its organ transplantation department stands as the largest and most advanced in Iran, ranking third worldwide after the United States and Spain. Additionally, Iran is among the top three countries globally for bone marrow transplantation, with over three thousand procedures conducted domestically. Moreover, Iran is recognized as one of the most successful nations in West Asia and North Africa for lung transplant surgeries, boasting a high survival rate. Annually, over 2000 kidney transplants and 1500 heart transplants are performed in Iranian medical and surgical centers.
Similarly, Iran ranks among the top countries globally for corneal transplantation surgeries. With 6000 procedures conducted annually, Iran hosts some of the world’s leading ophthalmologists who are internationally recognized. These specialists have pioneered innovative techniques in corneal transplantation, avoiding the need for deep incisions. They utilize advanced procedures such as “femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty” and “artificial corneal transplantation” to achieve remarkable results.
Not far from the realm of vision, specifically in the field of neurology, Iran ranks 19th globally in terms of published articles in cognitive neuroscience and holds the top position in the region. Professor Madjid Samii, an Iranian neurosurgeon, was elected as the world’s best brain and nerve surgeon by the International Academy of Brain and Nerve Surgery in 2014.
Returning to medical tourism, the city of Shiraz stands out as the world leader in liver transplantation. This achievement is attributed to the expertise of the medical staff and doctors in the hospitals there, particularly at the Abu Ali Sina Hospital, one of the largest organ transplant hospitals in the world. This medical facility includes departments for liver, kidney, heart, and pancreas transplantation, with over 600 liver transplant surgeries performed annually.
In Yazd, the city renowned for its historical, scientific, and touristic significance, several landmarks are listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It shines prominently in the field of medical tourism and healthcare services thanks to its well-equipped hospitals and high-quality medical facilities. For enthusiasts of natural therapy tourism, their destination would be Mazandaran province, nestled in the Alborz Mountains, which boasts numerous effective hot springs beneficial for those suffering from osteoporosis. Additionally, destinations like Sarein in Ardabil and Jono in Bandar Abbas offer similar therapeutic opportunities. In Gilan province, there is a renowned international hospital called “Ghaem” which holds an international accreditation from ACI in Canada, offering a diverse range of hospital services.
We cannot discuss this topic without mentioning cosmetic surgery, which particularly appeals to women in our Arab world. Iran, the homeland of Avicenna, witnesses a significant demand for cosmetic procedures due to the skill and expertise of Iranian plastic surgeons, renowned for their proficiency and high experience in the field of cosmetic surgery. Additionally, medical centers in Iran boast the latest and most advanced technologies. Among the popular procedures in Iran are rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, liposuction, and others.
The remarkable achievements of the Islamic Republic of Iran in various fields, including medicine and scientific research, are the result of the dedication and efforts of its citizens, coupled with the support and facilitation provided by the state. Generous allocations by successive Iranian governments since the victory of the Islamic Revolution have enabled Iranians to excel in the medical field and scientific research. Significant budgets are annually allocated to scientific research, positioning Tehran as the world’s second-largest spender on scientific research. This investment aims to develop and build superior national capabilities in diverse fields such as nanotechnology, stem cells, genetics, chemical and agricultural engineering, laser communication, and space sciences.
Thus, for the tenth consecutive year, the Islamic Republic secured the top spot in the Middle East for superior scientific research, significantly surpassing the Zionist entity, which also emphasizes research. Today, there are over 400 medical research centers and 76 medical journals in the country.
In response to what it termed Netanyahu’s dramatic speech on April 30, 2018, the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz stated in an article published on May 2 of the same year, “There is something Netanyahu does not want to see: Iran outperforms Israel in scientific research rankings,” adding, “Iran has already surpassed Israel by a wide margin over the past two decades. Iran has made great efforts to become a major scientific power, significantly increasing its research and development output, leaving Israel behind in scientific research measures.”
Following this report, various statements from the Zionist side expressed concern about this overwhelming superiority. The second Zionist channel commented, “Scientific research in Iran raises concerns among leaders in military intelligence and the security establishment.”
Zionist journalist Daniel Lior, citing information from the Alkhanadeq website, remarked, “Twenty years ago, Israel led scientific research in the Middle East. Since then, it has fallen to fourth place in the Middle East after Iran… Iran now leads in the number of scientific articles in many fields, such as physics, biology, chemistry, business management, and economic research.” He noted, “In 1996, Iranians published only 960 scientific articles compared to about 10,000 Israeli articles. Since then, Iranian figures have risen to around 41,000 annually.” Recently, in 2020, the number of published articles increased to 74,440, confirming that Iranian scientific efforts are growing at a rate 11 times the global average (based on data from the SCImago Journal and Country Rank journal database based on the Scopus database for science and technology).
In 2015, the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate of the Zionist Occupation Army, Major General Herzi Halevi, warned of Iranian technological advancements, stating, “You ask me if war will break out between us and Iran in the next ten years, and my answer will surprise you. We are currently engaged in a war with Iran, but it is not a direct military war, rather it is a technological war. Our engineers are fighting Iranian engineers today, and this war will become more intense later on.”
Stay tuned, dear readers, for the next episode of “Iran Through Algerian Eyes” as we delve deeper into the marvels of Iran and explore its advancements across various fields.
About Dzair Tube Media Group
Dzair Tube has firmly established itself as a prominent player among Algerian digital news sites, offering a diverse and enriching content experience. The platform, available in Arabic, French, and English editions, captures the attention of a wide-ranging audience, amassing over half a million daily clicks.
A testament to its commitment to excellence, Dzair Tube received the prestigious President of the Republic’s Award for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on October 22, 2022. This recognition underscores the platform’s unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards of journalism.
With a significant online presence, Dzair Tube boasts 350,000 subscribers on YouTube, over five million followers on various Facebook pages, and 450,000 subscribers on Instagram. Its digital channel has become a hub for diverse programming, covering news, sports, entertainment, culture, and religion, catering to a broad spectrum of audience preferences.
Equipped with state-of-the-art studios and advanced technology, Dzair Tube’s digital channel has garnered substantial viewership for its varied programs. Hosting interactive discussions with influential figures across different domains, the platform actively fosters public discourse and engagement. Beyond news coverage, Dzair Tube extends its commitment to the production of marketing documentaries, short TV commercials, and high-viewership programs.
The success of the print edition of Dzair Tube’s sports newspaper, “Dzair Sport,” further highlights the platform’s impact, with over 50,000 daily downloads from the official Dzair Tube website.
Recently honored with the Media Leadership Award from the Minister of Communication, Mohamed Laâgab, Dzair Tube continues to shape the landscape of Algerian digital news, maintaining a position of influence and impact in the media industry.
