Title: Landmark Directive Resolves Retirees’ Healthcare Funding, Paving Way for Systemic Reform
A Long-Awaited Resolution
After months of delays, a final resolution has been reached to settle the accumulated debts for retirees’ supplemental health insurance. This significant development, set to begin implementation from the start of the current Iranian calendar month of Mehr, is expected to end a prolonged period of uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of pensioners. The move directly addresses recent widespread concerns over delayed medical reimbursements.
Political Intervention and National Prioritization
The issue of delayed payments by the insurer, Atyeh Sazan Hafez, had escalated to the point where retiree associations across the country called for intervention from high-level state bodies and the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis). Following diligent follow-ups by Abbas Goudarzi, a member of the parliament’s presiding board, the matter was elevated for national review.
In a decisive political move, the Managing Director of the Social Security Organization, Dr. Salari, acting upon a new directive issued by the heads of the branches of government, mandated the organization to settle a portion of the accumulated debts to Atyeh Sazan Hafez. This critical financial injection, sourced from new funding channels, is anticipated to restore liquidity to the insurance company.
A Turning Point for Healthcare Services
Welfare and insurance experts hail this directive as a potential turning point for the retirees’ healthcare payment system. The restoration of liquidity is projected to enable the swift settlement of outstanding debts with medical centers, thereby normalizing the payment process for retirees’ medical expenses. Pensioners are hopeful that this month will mark the beginning of a new, more reliable chapter in their insurance and medical services.
Broader Organizational Restructuring for Enhanced Efficiency
Concurrent with this financial resolution, the Social Security Organization is undertaking a comprehensive structural overhaul. Mehdi Shokouri, the Deputy of the Organization, announced in a meeting of the Insurance and Treatment Council that these changes, approved by the board of directors, are designed to create better management conditions and rectify past shortcomings.
The restructuring focuses on agility and smartification, involving the merger of units and the redefinition of duties. A key part of this strategy includes the consolidation of various branches to streamline operations and improve service delivery. Furthermore, to address a significant human resource shortage, particularly in the medical sector, the organization plans to recruit and hire 5,000 new employees this year, following a period with limited hiring.
This multi-pronged approach—resolving immediate financial bottlenecks while simultaneously implementing long-term systemic reforms—demonstrates a committed effort to strengthen Iran’s social welfare infrastructure and ensure its sustainable and efficient operation for all beneficiaries.