$10–12 Billion Worth of Medical Equipment at Risk of Deterioration in Iran
While the total value of Iran’s medical capital equipment exceeds $12 billion, the president of the Iranian Association of Medical Equipment Specialists warns that no dedicated budget has been allocated for maintenance and repair. Universities are reportedly forced to divert funds from other areas, a situation that could push the country’s healthcare infrastructure toward a serious crisis.
According to Salamat News, citing Darmana, Ahmad Moslemi, President of the Iranian Association of Medical Equipment Specialists, raised this concern during the panel discussion on “Maintenance Management of Medical Equipment and Its Role in Resource Management” at the 10th National and 7th International Congress on Hospital Construction and Resource and Equipment Management.
Moslemi said: “Currently, we have between $10 and $12 billion worth of capital medical equipment across the country, yet not a single rial of dedicated budget has been allocated for their maintenance. Medical universities are forced to use other funds to keep this equipment operational.”
He added, “In some organizations, purchasing new medical equipment has become easier than repairing the existing ones. This reflects a lack of sustainable planning in the management of medical assets.”
According to Moslemi, the cost of equipping a single hospital bed in Iran is estimated at $100,000, meaning that outfitting a 200-bed hospital requires roughly $20 million. “In the past, the balance of hospital construction costs favored infrastructure and building, but today, the balance has shifted toward medical equipment—now accounting for the largest share of hospital investment,” he noted.
Referring to international standards, Moslemi said: “In many countries, between 4% and 7% of the total value of medical equipment is earmarked for maintenance. Based on this rate, Iran should allocate $300 to $400 million annually for maintenance.”
He also highlighted a major structural problem in the sector: “In most countries, after-sales service for medical equipment is open and competitive, but in Iran it has become monopolized. This lack of competition is one of the main flaws in the current maintenance system.”
