Shahroud to Host the 30th National Quran and Etrat Festival of the Health System from September 3

August 29, 2026 | 07:37

The President of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences and Health Services announced that the closing ceremony of the 30th National Quran and Etrat Festival of the Health System will be held in Shahroud for 10 days starting September 3, 2026, with the participation of 1,200 outstanding Quranic talents from across the country.

According to the Iranian Students News Agency (IRNA), Dr. Mohammad Hassan Emamian made the announcement on Thursday evening during a ceremony commemorating National Physicians’ and Pharmacists’ Day and other occasions related to the healthcare community.

He stated that approximately 62,000 healthcare professionals from various sectors have participated in the national Quran and Etrat competitions over the past six months, with 1,200 finalists expected to attend the closing ceremony in Shahroud.

Family Medicine: A Step Toward Health Equity

Referring to the implementation of the Family Medicine and Referral System for a population of more than 185,000 people in Shahroud, Dr. Emamian said the successful implementation of the program could pave the way for greater health equity, improved access to healthcare services, and timely diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

He explained that 64 universities joined the program during its initial phase, with Shahroud University of Medical Sciences among them, covering a population of more than 185,000 people.

“Many of our colleagues at comprehensive health service centers and health posts provide primary-level healthcare services and, together with healthcare teams, manage the populations under their coverage,” he said. “Other healthcare professionals also contribute in areas including pharmaceutical services, dentistry, as well as specialized and subspecialized outpatient and inpatient care.”

Highlighting the university’s achievements across various fields, Dr. Emamian emphasized that physicians, healthcare professionals, and staff across the health system continue to stand alongside the community with a strong spirit of solidarity and unity, working to provide higher-quality and more effective services.

He described Family Medicine as a legal obligation and one of the most important pathways ahead for the country’s healthcare system, adding that successful implementation of the program could lead to further achievements.

Dr. Emamian noted that the Family Medicine program could help steer the healthcare system toward greater health equity, improved access to healthcare services, appropriate and well-defined use of specialized and subspecialized services, as well as stronger prevention and timely diagnosis and treatment.

Emphasizing the importance of public participation and the support of healthcare professionals, he expressed hope that greater community engagement and cooperation among physicians would contribute to the successful implementation of the program and enable Shahroud, as in the past, to become a successful model for the implementation of national health programs.

Uninterrupted Healthcare Services in Challenging Circumstances

The President of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences and Health Services also highlighted the continued provision of healthcare services under challenging circumstances.

He noted that many patients requiring specialized treatments, chemotherapy, certain surgical procedures, and other specific and specialized medical services continued to receive their treatment without interruption during the wartime conditions in April 2026, and that the provision of these services continued thereafter.

Dr. Emamian added that, through the efforts of the Vice Chancellor for Food and Drug Affairs and all relevant pharmaceutical sectors, essential medicines and pharmaceutical supplies—from infant formula to specialized medications—remained available to the public.

Although temporary limitations occurred in the availability of certain medications, he emphasized that every effort was made to prevent shortages from depriving people of access to essential pharmaceutical services.