According to Webda, on Tuesday, July 21st, a high-level meeting focused on the development of health tourism was hosted by Imam Hassan Hospital, affiliated with NKUMS.

 

The session was attended by Maryam Mahrouqi, Deputy for Assemblies and Councils of the Bojnourd Chamber of Commerce; Afrouz, Head of the Chamber's Tourism Commission; Ebrahimi, Head of Bojnourd’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department; private sector representatives; Dr. Safikhani, Director of Imam Hassan Hospital; Dr. Geryvani, Acting Director of International Affairs at NKUMS; as well as a number of experts and managers from related sectors. During the meeting, tourism agency representatives and tour guides shared their concerns, experiences, and capacities in the field of health tourism, emphasizing the importance of intersectoral cooperation to grow this field effectively. Mahrouqi introduced the newly launched Health Tourism Commission at the Chamber of Commerce, highlighting its goal of fostering constructive collaboration between public and private stakeholders — including NKUMS, the Provincial Department of Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and travel agencies — to help boost health tourism in the province similar to neighboring regions. Ebrahimi noted that many tourists travel through North Khorasan en route to other provinces, describing them as a significant potential resource. He emphasized the importance of attracting these transit tourists and increasing their stay in the province. He also pointed to the province’s rich capacities in wellness and nature-based therapy, advocating for promotion of these subcategories alongside medical tourism. Dr. Safikhani confirmed the hospital’s full readiness — in terms of both infrastructure and medical teams — to receive international patients and expressed the hospital’s willingness to cooperate closely with private sector partners in this regard. Dr. Geryvani also emphasized the availability of expert medical personnel, cutting-edge technologies, and high-quality services in both public and private medical centers. He stated that from the moment a patient is referred by a travel agency to the end of their treatment, comprehensive care is provided. Patient follow-up is also conducted post-discharge in accordance with international protocols. At the end of the session, participants visited the hospital’s IPD (International Patient Department), becoming acquainted with its hospitality and patient facilities. This meeting marked a significant step toward building inter-organizational collaboration and enhancing North Khorasan’s position in the field of health tourism.