Title: Fars Province Expands Social Welfare Services, Announces New Initiatives for Retirees and Rural Communities
In a significant development for social welfare in Iran, the Director General of the Social Security Organization in Fars Province has outlined a series of new initiatives and ongoing commitments aimed at enhancing services for retirees, insured individuals, and rural communities. The announcements highlight a continued focus on digital modernization and uninterrupted service delivery.
Digital Expansion and Uninterrupted Services
A key priority is the continued development of digital and electronic services, which are slated for expansion by the end of the current Iranian month of Bahman. This initiative ensures that all insurance and medical services within the province will be delivered without interruption. The official emphasized that despite recent national challenges, services have been maintained seamlessly through the preservation of electronic infrastructure, crisis management meetings, and timely pension payments.
Financial Commitments and Debt Management
The organization demonstrates its substantial financial commitment by disbursing approximately 50 trillion tomans monthly for pensions, sickness benefits, maternity leave, and other services. A major effort has also been made to address employer debts, which stand at 470 trillion tomans in the province. Over the past year, 4,700 debt cases have been reviewed and restructured, with about 70% successfully resolved.
Enhanced Benefits for Retirees and Farmers
Several new programs directly benefit citizens. These include:
- A pilgrimage trip for 4,000 retirees to Mashhad.
- The provision of 2,300 interest-free loans.
- Direct grants to 1,000 individuals.
- The hiring of 70 new personnel.
Furthermore, the head of the Farmers, Rural, and Nomads Social Insurance Fund for South Khorasan Province detailed support for this sector. The government covers 70% of the insurance premium for this group, significantly easing enrollment. New regulations also allow for retirement after 35 years of premium payments, or at age 65 with a minimum of 15 years of service, thanks to an incentive adding five years of service provided by the government.
Healthcare Modernization and Access
Healthcare services remain a cornerstone of the social security framework. Officials confirmed that the modernization and updating of hospitals and clinics have ensured that specialized and super-specialized medical services continue at full capacity without any reduction. Key projects, including a new 320-bed hospital, are underway. Strategic purchasing for medical centers exceeded 5.5 trillion tomans last year and is projected to reach approximately 8 trillion tomans this year, with all resources dedicated solely to services for the insured and retirees.
A Forward-Looking Transformational Plan
Acknowledging the need to modernize outdated frameworks, a new 20-article transformational plan has been designed. Its goals are to smarten processes, develop non-attendance (online) services, ensure transparency in calculations, and establish equity in service delivery, ensuring the social security system meets contemporary needs.
