International Seminar on Iran’s Health Agenda in Light of Global Megatrends

International Seminar on Iran’s Health Agenda in Light of Global Megatrends

According to the Center of Excellence for Global Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (CEGH‑TUMS), the International Seminar on Iran’s Health Agenda in Light of Global Megatrends was held in a hybrid format, bringing together a wide range of professors and senior health system managers from across the country.

At the opening session, Professor Amirhossein Takian, Founder and Head of the Center of Excellence for Global Health, emphasized the need for Iran’s health system to align with global transformations. He highlighted intersectoral collaboration and continuous dialogue as the most strategic pathways toward sustainable health system reform.

Following that, Professor Ali Akbarisari, President of the National Institute for Health Research and Faculty Member at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, delivered the keynote address, offering a comprehensive analysis of the megatrends shaping Iran’s health system along with the country’s strategic challenges and opportunities.

In the international segment, Dr. Awad Mataria, Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Iran, and Dr. Kumanan Rasanathan, Director of the Health Systems Policy and Research Partnership at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, joined the meeting virtually via Zoom.

Dr. Mataria presented the regional office’s ongoing programs and vision, while Dr. Rasanathan elaborated on the recently published article in Nature Medicine titled “Functions of the Global Health System in the New Era,” co‑authored with Professor Takian and colleagues.

The expert panel discussion was moderated by Professor Takian and featured Dr. Kioomars Ashtarian, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran; Dr. Mahmood Tara, Associate Professor at the Shahid Rajaee Cardiovascular Research, Education and Treatment Center; and Dr. Ali Jafarian, Senior Advisor and Deputy to the Minister of Health.

The panel engaged in dialogue on topics including the political paradigm of health, the role of artificial intelligence in smart governance, and the Ministry of Health’s preparedness for the emerging global health era.

In the closing segment, both in‑person and online participants exchanged questions and insights with the panelists. The key takeaway from the seminar was the collective call for concrete steps and enhanced collaboration among governmental institutions, academia, and civil society—ensuring that Iran’s health system advances in harmony with global megatrends.

Selected highlights and parts of the seminar are available at [https://pr.tums.ac.ir/ZNuQo].