Dr. Lankarani, the Minister of Health, says in 2005, Tehran had 38 MRI centers and 37 of them were in private sector (www.baztab.com , code: 56945, Jan 3,2007). MRI might be considered as a typical example of advanced diagnostic healthcare in developing countries with limited healthcare budget. Number of private MRI centers can serve as a good indicator of rapidly expanding expensive healthcare in private sector. A large number of people have financial obstacles to purchase advanced diagnostic and therapeutic healthcare from private sector. This is not only because a great majority of the patients are uninsured but also originates from the fact that insurance plans generally do not (fully) cover advanced healthcare services. Many of the advanced private medical diagnostic centers including medical imaging centers (MRI and CT Scan) are not willing to make a contract with public insurance companies just because it is a huge fear about not being reimbursed in a timely manner.
Now, the Ministry of Health has realized that inequality in healthcare utilization is going to be the most important challenge of Iranian healthcare.The MOH does not have effective means to take control over the expanding private sector and people have to pay most of the healthcare out of their pocket.
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