of the household, the family of a female employee can only benefit from her health insurance
when she provides for him or when her husband is unemployed or disabled.5
The State Social Security Organization is the main provider of social services in Iran, including
access to healthcare through insurance programs. The Iranian Health Insurance Organization
(IHIO) was established in 2012 with the merger of several health care organizations.6 All nonprivate healthcare provision is overseen by the IHIO making it responsible for the majority of
insurance claims and all of those under HSEP programmes. The IHIO is in charge of improving
health services in the country, but there is no evidence of an efficient mechanism to receive
complaints regarding right to health. 7
In most circumstances outside of state-assisted sex changes, psychotherapy and psychological
consultation are not covered by any public or private insurance, nor through any support
programs.8 Although the National Health Transformation Plan, established in 2013, has
expanded the number of people having access to the national health insurance scheme and
reduced health care expenses, the plan does not specifically reference persons with disabilities or
disability-related healthcare services.9 Although Iran’s government provides health care to
people with disabilities, there are services that are not covered like dentistry, occupational
therapy, and speech therapy.10 Since there are financial barriers due to affordability, this could
represent an obstacle for persons with disabilities to fully exercise their right to health on an
equal basis with others.11
Refugees are now permitted to access healthcare through their identification cards issued in 2010
by the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA). The identification cards
guarantee access to healthcare to thousands of Afghan refugees.12
The national immunization program of Iran has played an important role in steps toward the
control, elimination and eradication of infectious diseases. However, there are challenges
regarding both diseases covered by the program and the type of vaccine or route of delivery. One
5
6
7
https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/05/25/its-mens-club/discrimination-against-women-irans-job-market
https://www.rrk.ir/Laws/ShowLaw.aspx?Code=971
State Welfare Organization of Iran
http://en.behzisti.ir/news/13608/Introduction-of-State-Welfare-Organization-of-Iran; Center for Human Rights in Iran
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2018/06/drr-state-welfare-organization-complaintmechanismhttps://www.iranhumanrights.org/2018/06/drr-state-welfare-organization-complaint-mechanism
8
https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/accessible_document/iran0618english_i_am_equally_human.pdf
9
https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/accessible_document/iran0618english_i_am_equally_human.pdf
10
Iranian Journal of Public health
http://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/16534
11
UNHCR (A_HRC_37_24)
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session37/Documents/A_HRC_37_24.docx; HWR
https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/06/26/i-am-equally-human/discrimination-and-lack-accessibility-people-disabilities-iran
12
Refugee Documentation Center https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4c3d86e42.pdf
2