Iran launches seventh national hospital accreditation cycle

Iran's Minister of Health, Mohammad Reza Zafarkandi, has launched the seventh cycle of the national hospital accreditation program. The initiative aims to enhance healthcare quality through rigorous evaluation and continuous improvement.

Zafarkandi emphasized that accreditation should move beyond physical facilities and equipment to focus on professional ethics, patient dignity, and the human connection between doctors and patients. He noted that physician presence at the bedside is a critical factor in patient satisfaction.

The new cycle introduces updated indicators, including patient safety, emergency service efficiency, and the integration of modern technologies. The Minister called for a transition from manual, paper-based checklists toward the use of smart platforms and artificial intelligence in the assessment and accreditation processes to better protect public rights and improve medical error management.