[Review of the thirty years experience of the lslamic Republic of lran on social determinants of health and health equity the future course: roles and orientations of the lslamic gonsultative assembly]

ABSTRACT

Over three decades of research on social determinants of health suggest unequivocal impact of factors like childhood development, education, employment, housing, entertainment, public transportation, agriculture and social support, on people's health. In the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution, there has been eye-catching progress in the areas of maternal and child health. The key role of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in examining and approving five years development plans of the Islamic Republic is irrefutable. The implementation of national development plans has often contained core determinants of health, in particular in the areas of employment, housing, social support, health services, environment and food security. The support rendered by the Islamic Consultative Assembly to promoting health in the past three decades, spurs further hope for greater strides in terms of health indicators of the country, in accordance with the following strategies - To draw full support of the Health and Medical Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, to ensure approval and monitoring of health oriented laws and regulations and policies in all 14 commissions of the Assembly; - To negotiate and win the support of all members of the Assembly's fractions, and heads of forums for provincial groups of parliamentarians. to encourage approval of health oriented policies at the Assembly and their implementation within provinces; - To cooperate with the Ministry of interior in promoting the performance of the Provincial Councils on Hearth and Food Security and Islamic Councils at city and village levels, to stimulate participation of all in improving the situation of their immediate environment; - To supervise and provide support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in further activating the National council on Health and Food Security; - To lunch a monitoring system at the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly to oversee indicators related to health equity.