Iranian Oncology: Mighty Against Cancer

Medtourpress’ interview with Dr. Ali Yaghoubi, Oncologist and member of the scientific board of the “Shahid Beheshti” University of Medical Sciences

Cancer has become the third most common cause of death for Iranians, in the world too, this hard-to-treat disease and the deaths it brings, are constantly on the rise. So much so that according to the statistics released by the international agency for research on cancer, more than 9 million people died of cancer in 2018. Therefore, the need for cancer treatment is in constant growth, for this reason, Iran, having great medical capabilities, could easily provide medical services to foreign patients in the field of Oncology.
Oncology is a specialist branch of medicine with cancer diagnosis, treatment and follows up care for the patient falling under the responsibilities of an Oncologist.
Dr. Ali Yaghoubi Jouybari, Oncologist, and member of the scientific board of the “Shahid Beheshti” University of Medical Sciences, also points out the great capabilities of Iran in the treatment of cancer.

In some areas of oncology, we have even overtaken European countries, and in general we have no lacking in the field.

What position does Iran occupy with regards to oncologic knowledge in the world?

“In the past years, we have witnessed the ascendancy of Iran to the top of the medical knowledge pyramid in the region, and concerning the services that we provide for patients, these services meet the international standards.

In the field of oncology and in relation to the radiotherapy devices and treatment protocols, we are situated in such a manner that makes the country quite appealing for foreign patients, since we approach the process of treatment according to the latest scientific knowledge of the day and consistently maintain medical standards of the field.

In some areas of oncology, we have even overtaken European countries, and in general we have no lacking in the field.”

We possess and use the latest radiotherapy technologies. We also match the international standard when it comes to chemotherapy protocols.

Does the possibility and potential of a foreign patient afflicted with cancer coming to Iran to receive high quality medical services according to latest international standards exist?
“Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy and cancer surgery are the three main branches of oncology, with the matter of the fact being that Iran has had great advancement in all of these areas.

There are almost no cancer surgeries that we are not capable of executing in Iran. Some of the most complex surgeries for cancer that are only executed in a limited number of countries are concluded in public medical centers of Iran.

We possess and use the latest radiotherapy technologies. We also match the international standard when it comes to chemotherapy protocols.

Based on all of these advancements, I would say that if a patient from neighboring countries seeks oncologic services in Europe even at the hands of lower tier surgeons of these countries, they’d still need to spend 4 to 5 times as much as what it would cost to receive the same treatment in Iran.”