18 June 2023 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered the first 3 MRI machines as a part of a project that is funded by the Government of Japan aimed at strengthening the diagnostic capacity of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s health system. The state-of-the-art 1.5-Tesla MRI scanners will be installed in hospitals identified by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

A total of 6 MRI machines will be delivered through the implementation of this project. The first 3 machines arrived at target hospitals, namely, Kosar Hospital in Semnan, Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord, and Pasteur Hospital in Bam. The installation process started immediately and will be completed in the next few weeks. Two other machines, destined for 12 Farvardin Hospital in Kahnooj and Imam Ali Hospital of Andimeshk, are scheduled to arrive by 21 June. The sixth machine will arrive by 7 July and will be delivered to Shohada Hospital in Neyriz.

The MRI machine being unloaded and transferred to the inside of Kosar Hospital, Semnan

“Previously there were only 2 MRI machines in Shahrekord, one in a public hospital and one in a private imaging centre,” said Dr Neda Seyfi, Head of Hajar Hospital. “The addition of the new machine will increase the capacity of the public sector in providing affordable diagnostic services to both the people of Shahrekord and adjacent towns.”

The Chancellor of Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Dr Kamran Qods said, “Semnan University of Medical Sciences provides health care to about 70% of the province’s population, yet the lack of an MRI machine was the missing link in the chain of our health services. With this machine provided thanks to the People of Japan, the people of province will have access to affordable MRI services.”

Unloading of the MRI machine and preparing for radio frequency shielding for MRI at Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord

MRI is a noninvasive imaging technology with a broad spectrum of clinical applications in detection and diagnosis of various conditions, as well as treatment monitoring. The machines provided within this humanitarian project will increase the capacity of the national health system for diagnosis of diseases.