Iran: Whether Iranians can retroactively obtain in Iran or abroad a medical certificate stating that they were treated at a particular hospital or medical clinic (2012-2015)

Information on the ability of Iranians to retroactively obtain medical certificates, whether in Iran or when abroad, was scarce among the resources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an official in Legal Affairs in the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, DC, indicated that it is possible for Iranians to retroactively obtain medical certificates or documents from an Iranian hospital and/or clinic stating that they had been treated there (Pakistan 18 Feb. 2015). The embassy official stated that whether the individual is in Iran or abroad,

[t]he individual must apply in person and ... contact the hospitals and/or medical clinics directly in order to obtain his/her medical records, and have it certified by that particular hospital if they wish and/or if it is required by a third party. (ibid.)

To the embassy official's knowledge, the procedure has not changed over the past five to ten years (ibid.).

According to the same source, if the individual is unable to apply in person, they "need to have someone as their attorney-in-fact to apply on their behalf" (ibid.). The embassy official further noted that, while embassies or consulates can help an individual "with their power of attorney," they are not able to help an individual obtain "their documents from the hospitals or medical clinics" (ibid.).

The embassy official also noted that while private hospitals and medical clinics each "follow their own rules and regulations," they should all be able to provide these documents to individuals who request them (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

A 2010 article on medical-record-information disclosure laws in selected countries, including Iran [1], published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, states that in Iran "there are few laws and policies concerning the disclosure of health information ... there are no specific written policies and procedures for disclosure of health information in the hospitals" (Yarmohammadian et al. May-June 2010). A 2014 article titled "Reasons for Deficiencies in Health Information Laws in Iran" [2], published in the journal Perspectives in Health Information Management, similarly notes that "the laws in the field of health information are very limited in Iran" (Moghaddasi et al. 1 Apr. 2014, 3). A 2013 article on patient access to electronic health records in selected countries including Iran [3], published in the journal Medical Archives, states that in Iran "[a]ccess by patients themselves means that the patient has the access right to their record and its information but a patient needs to make a written request to obtain the data" (Tavakoli et al. Feb. 2013, 65). Moghaddasi et al. state that "the most numerous laws in the field of health information in Iran are related to the retention of medical records" and that the "laws and regulations for keeping healthcare information are mainly limited to registering patients' admissions and recording their medical files" (1 Apr. 2014., 4). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The article was written by Mohammad Hossein Yarmohammadian, Ahmad Reza Raeisi, Nahid Tavakoli and Leila Ghaderi Nansa (Yarmohammadian et al. May-June 2010). At the time of publication of the article, Yarmohammadian was affiliated with the Health Management and Economic Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Raeisi was affiliated with the Department of Health Services Administration, Health Management and Economic Research Center, Isfhan University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Tavakoli was affiliated with the Medical Records Department, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and Nansa was affiliated with the Medical Records Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran (ibid.).

[2] The article was written by Hamid Moghaddasi, Azamol-sadat Hosseini, Samad Sajjadi, and Maryam Nikookalam (Moghaddasi et al. 1 Apr. 2014, 6). Moghaddasi is an associate professor of health information management and medical informatics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Hosseini is an assistant professor, College of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Sajjadi is an associate professor, College of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran; and Nikookalam is a student, College of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran (ibid.).

[3] The article was written by Nahid Tavakoli, Sakineh Saghaeiannejad Isfahani, Zakiye Piri, and Afsaneh Amini (Tavakoli et al. Feb. 2013, 63). At the time of the publication of the article, Tavakoli was affiliated with Ishafan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Isfahani was affiliated with the Health Management and Economic Research Center, Ishafan University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Piri was affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran; and Amini was a MSc student at Ishafan University of Medical Sciences, Iran (ibid.).

References

Moghaddasi, Hamid, Azamol-sadat Hosseini, Samad Sajjadi, Maryam Nikookalam. 1 April 2014. "Reasons for Deficiencies in Health Information Laws in Iran." Perspectives in Health Information Management. Vol.11, No. 1b. [Accessed 18 Feb. 2015]

Pakistan, 18 February 2015. Embassy of Pakistan, Washington, DC, Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Correspondence from an official to the Research Directorate.

Tavakoli, Nahid, Sakineh Saghaeiannejad Isfahani, Zakiye Piri, Afsaneh Amini. February 2013. "Patient Access to Electronic Health Record: A Comparative Study on Laws, Policies and Procedures in Selected Countries." Medical Archives. Vol. 67, No. 1.

Yarmohammadian, Mohammad Hossein, Ahmad Reza Raeisi, Nahid Tavakoli, Leila Ghaderi Nansa. May-June 2010. "Medical Record Information Disclosure Laws and Policies Among Selected Countries; a Comparative Study." Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.Vol. 15, No. 3.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Attempts to contact the following were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services (Toronto); Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization.

Internet sites, including: Atieh Hospital, Iran; ecoi.net; Factiva; Iran - Consulate in London, embassies of Islamic Republic of Iran in Canberra and The Hague; Iran Daily; Iranian American Medical Association; United Nations - Refworld, World Health Organization.