$100,000 donation by the Russian Federation in 2015 contributes towards affordable health insurance for refugees offered through a recent unprecedented initiative by the Islamic Republic of Iran; the Salamat Health Insurance.
This scheme, established through a tripartite agreement between the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs (BAFIA) of the Ministry of Interior, the Iranian Health Insurance Organization (IHIO Salamat) and UNHCR, provides all Afghan and Iraqi refugees living in Iran with affordable health insurance.
This donation thus contributes to expanding access to health care services for nearly a million refugees under the umbrella of the Salamat Health Insurance in case of hospitalization and temporary hospitalization. Refugees suffering from Special Diseases (Hemophilia, Thalassemia, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant and Multiple Sclerosis) also benefit from the basic insurance package which covers the cost of hospitalization, temporary hospitalization as well as para-clinical services.
Sivanka Dhanapala, UNHCR Representative in Iran says “UNHCR is grateful to the support of the Russian Federation in helping refugees gain access to health care. The insurance proves vital to the lives of many, improving the physical and mental health and the economic and social well-being of close to a million refugees.”
While the Government of Iran generously covers half of the real monthly costs of the insurance premium, with beneficiaries also partially contributing to the monthly premium, the scheme is further complemented by UNHCR’s contribution of 8.3 million USD for the six month period which is made possible as a result of the generosity of donor countries such as the Russian Federation.
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