Second Journal Club Session on “Iran in Transition” Held with a Focus on Health System Transition in Iran

Second Journal Club Session on “Iran in Transition” Held with a Focus on Health System Transition in Iran

The second session of the Journal Club of the Center of Excellence for Global Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, was held on 2 December 2025, focusing on a critical review of the Iran in Transition article from The Lancet series. The event brought together distinguished faculty members and researchers, and was chaired by Dr. Amirhossein Takian, serving as the moderator of the session. The program aimed to deepen understanding of Iran’s health transition, demographic shifts, and the policy implications for the national health system.

The session opened with a presentation by Dr. Farshad Farzadfar, the main presenter, who outlined the article’s framework, methodology, and key themes related to epidemiological and socio-economic transitions in Iran. His structured analysis emphasized changes in disease burden, shifts in demographic indicators, and future health scenarios.

Following the presentation, two expert reviewers shared their perspectives:

• First Review: Dr. Afshin Ostovar

He critically examined the validity of the data, the accuracy of the forecasts presented in the article, and methodological limitations.

• Second Review: Dr. Ali-Akbar Haghdoost

He highlighted the complexity of Iran’s health system, the necessity of future-oriented modeling, integration of care, and the policy implications arising from existing data and decision-making gaps.

In the concluding remarks, Dr. Takian summarized the key messages of the discussion, underscoring three main points:

• The importance of analyzing health transition based on epidemiological and demographic dynamics
• The essential role of robust data systems in evidence-informed decision-making
• The need for multidisciplinary and forward-looking approaches in health policy-making

This Journal Club session is part of the Center’s ongoing efforts to enhance research literacy, strengthen critical thinking, and promote scientific dialogue on the transition of Iran’s health system.