Rules and regulations related to the admission and treatment of international patients in the medical institution
Article 1) Definitions:
1-1- In this bylaw, the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education is referred to as the “relevant ministry”.
1-2- Health Tourism Steering Council: composed of the Deputy Minister of Medicine of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, the Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Organization of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, the Deputy Consular Affairs of the Parliament and Iranians of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the head of the Medical System Organization who follow the agreement dated 5/1/1393, it has been signed by the Ministers of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, Foreign Affairs, the Head of the Cultural Heritage Organization and the Head of the Medical System Organization, it is attached and submitted.
1-3- The deputy of treatment of the relevant ministry is called “deputy”.
1-4- The vice president of medicine of universities and faculties of medical sciences and healthcare services is called “university vice president”.
5-1- The Office of Supervision and Accreditation of Treatment Affairs is called “Office”.
6-1- Health Tourism Administration of the Office of Supervision and Accreditation of Treatment Affairs is called “Administration”.
7-1- The commission for diagnosis of medical affairs of the ministry, the subject of article 20 of the law related to the regulations of medical affairs, pharmaceuticals and food and drink approved in 1334 and subsequent amendments, is called “Legal Commission”.
1-8- International patients unit license is a legal agreement that is given by the office, according to the established criteria, to the hospital applying to provide health tourism services to international patients, as a license to provide health tourism services to international patients, and to Abbreviation is called “international patient unit license”.
1-9- The general/general hospital with special specialization, applying to provide health services to international patients (in accordance with the provisions of this regulation and the regulation of the establishment and operation of the hospital as well as other instructions issued and the regulations of the ministry) is called “hospital” in short. .
10-1- International Patient Unit (IPD): It is a unit in the hospital whose task is to make the necessary arrangements to provide diagnostic and treatment services to foreign patients.
1-11- International patient: is a foreigner who has visited the hospital to receive diagnostic and treatment services.
Note 1: Afghan patients who have not traveled to the country to receive medical services and are staying in Iran for other reasons are not considered as international patients.
Note 2: Iranians living abroad can also be considered as international patients upon their request.
12-1- International Patient Unit Expert (IPD) is a person who is stationed in the international patient unit and is responsible for following up all the services provided to foreign patients during the patient’s stay in the hospital.
1-13- IPD doctor/doctors: in centers with international patient units, in order to accelerate the performance of all diagnostic, therapeutic and care services related to hospitalized patients, it is necessary to appoint other doctors/doctors in addition to the treating doctor as the person responsible for following up on the doctor’s orders The International Patient Physician (IPD) will be responsible for this task.
14-1- Medical doctor: He is the doctor who is responsible for the treatment of the patient and all medical responsibilities are his responsibility.
15-1- Treatment package/service package: means a diagnostic treatment package that can be provided to an international patient, which includes all the patient’s expenses, including medical and welfare services, calculated as one package, and when the patient visits, the full cost is at the disposal of the patient. It is placed internationally.
1-16- Accredited Facilitator Company: It is a travel service company or office that has the necessary permits from the Organization of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism (in accordance with the Health Tourism Professional Certification Procedure No. 28579/932400 dated 12/3/93 and signs a contract with the hospital to introduce international patients to the hospital.
Article 2- Description of duties and qualifications
2-1- International patients unit doctor (IPD doctor)
2-1-1- Qualification conditions
• Having at least a general medical degree
• Working in a hospital
• Adequate command of English or the dominant language of patients who visit the hospital
• Introducing a qualified person as an IPD doctor through a decision by the head of the hospital
2-1-2- Description of duties of IPD doctor
• Visiting the patient in the first hour of hospitalization
• Coordinating with the attending physician and taking initial orders
• Coordinating with the head of the department and the nursing office to perform paraclinical procedures and patient consultations as soon as possible
• Daily patient visit
• Coordination with the person in charge of the electronic system and the hospital website to prepare the electronic file
• Cooperating with the attending physician to prepare a summary of the patient’s case and documents in English
• Following up on emergency events that may happen to the patient within 24 hours
• Providing adequate information to the patient about how to complain
Note 1: If the number of patients and the duration of the IPD doctor’s presence in the hospital in a certain period of time are not proportional to the cost effectiveness and the number of staff assigned to this unit is not economical, in order to reduce the cost, the head of the hospital can replace the IPD doctor with a doctor. Inform the doctors of the hospital as the respondent or substitute responsible person with a written notification.
Note 2: Based on its conditions, the hospital can add other clauses to the description of the duties of the IPD doctor.
2-2- International patients unit expert (IPD expert)
2-2-1- Qualification conditions:
• Having at least a bachelor’s degree in one of the fields related to healthcare services
• Having full command of English or the dominant language of international patients visiting the hospital
2-2-2- Description of duties:
• Continuous presence in the international patient unit of the hospital
• Welcoming international patients upon entering the hospital
• Providing necessary information to international patients in the field of hospital services and facilities
• Making the necessary arrangements to accept international patients in the hospital
• Inform the IPD doctor and the attending physician during the hospitalization of the international patient
• Guiding and introducing the international patient to the department where the international patient is hospitalized
• Assisting in translating and communicating the international patient with the medical and nursing staff during the hospitalization of the international patient
• Carrying out the necessary inter-departmental coordination in the hospital to facilitate and accelerate the provision of services to international patients
• Assessing and increasing international patient satisfaction during hospital stay
• Carrying out the necessary measures and coordination during the discharge of the international patient
• Making the necessary arrangements with reliable facilitation companies
• Registration of international patient information in the health tourism system of the Ministry
• Coordination with the health tourism expert of the university
Note 1: According to the circumstances, the hospital can consider other job descriptions for the IPD expert.
2-3- Medical doctor
3-2-1- Qualification conditions:
• Having expertise in one of the clinical fields of medicine
• Having a valid contract with the hospital
• Approval of the qualification of providing services to international patients by the hospital management
• Providing a certificate of non-conviction from the medical system organization
2-3-2- Description of duties:
Accepting technical and legal responsibility for all medical services that can be provided to international patients
• Providing all medical services as soon as possible and in compliance with the principles of medical ethics to international patients
• Provide a typed summary of the case to the patient, which should include the diagnosis, type of service provided, description of the procedure performed, and necessary recommendations after discharge.
• Providing a contact number and 24-hour access to the international patient so that he can contact the treating doctor in case of any problem or complication.
Note 1: Receiving any money outside of the prescribed conditions by a doctor for providing medical services is considered illegal and will be subject to the relevant guarantees.
Article 3- Types of services that can be provided to international patients:
A: Outpatient: All services that are provided to international patients for check-up, disease diagnosis, paraclinical work and treatment, which are provided in less than 24 hours.
B: Hospitalization: all services provided by hospitalization of the patient for a period of more than 24 hours.
Article 4- Conditions for setting up an IPD unit in the hospital:
The rules for setting up and operating the hospital’s IPD unit are as follows:
4-1- The hospital must have at least level 2 of national accreditation.
2-4- Submission of the request for the establishment of the international patient unit by the hospital to the vice-chancellor of the relevant university
4-3- Introduction of doctors, experts and treating doctors of the IPD unit to the vice-chancellor of the relevant university
4-4- The location and physical space, equipment and manpower required by the IPD unit, as well as the hospital facilities, must be inspected, evaluated and approved by the relevant experts of the University Vice-Chancellor before starting the work of the said unit in the hospital.
5-4- Registering the volunteer hospital information of the international patient unit in the health tourism system by the relevant university expert
4-6- Confirmation of the qualification of the hospital to receive the license of the international patient unit by the vice president of medical treatment of the university and announcing it to the vice president of medical treatment of the ministry
7-4- Reviewing and verifying the qualification of the hospital in the supervision and accreditation office of the Ministry of Medical Affairs and Licensing (flow chart of how to issue a license, Appendix 1)
4-8- The validity period of the issued license is for one year, the renewal and cancellation of the issued license is subject to annual evaluation, and the issued license cannot be assigned to anyone else.
Note 1: The technical officer of the hospital is also the technical officer of the international patient unit.
Note 2: The hospital can only provide services to international patients that are specified in the operating license of the center.
8-4- Physical structure and hotel services:
4-8-1- The international patient unit should have an office where the IPD expert resides and if possible, it should be in a place that is easy for international patients to access (it is recommended to be near the hospital reception).
4-8-2- Depending on the hospital’s policy, international patients can be admitted in a separate section or in defined sections of the hospital, a room can be provided in accordance with hotel service standards (Appendix No. 2) to provide services to patients. prepare the international
Article 5- Acceptance of international patients:
5-1- If the patient applies directly or is admitted through the hospital website, all the existing regulations, including hospital fees, service packages, amenities, must be provided to them in the form of sheets stamped with the hospital’s seal, and if they accept the conditions On the part of the patient, their admission should be done in the form of a contract between the hospital and the patient.
2-5- In case the patient is admitted to the hospital by an accredited facilitator, the necessary arrangements in this regard must be made in advance through the company (the doctor in charge of technical health of the facilitating company) with the hospital. These coordinations include providing the patient’s information and his initial file, which should be available to the hospital. Patient admission is done in the form of a tripartite agreement between the hospital, the facilitating company and the patient.
