Iran University of Medical Sciences hosted an international event, called Technology, Health and Life (aka THL) this week, to boost digital health development.
Held on Sunday, the daylong event was jointly organized by IUMS, the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology and the Health Ministry, Peivast reported.
THL is a global event and besides Iran, it was simultaneously held in several venues around the world, including Turkey and Finland, with the same goal.
“Unlike most similar conferences and fairs in the field of health and medication, whose primary purpose is to present and sell products, THL lay the groundwork for exchanging innovation and technology in the field,” said Hossein Vatanpour, the head of the ministry’s Health Technology Development Office.
In addition, encouraging investment in the field, providing startups and knowledge-based companies with the opportunity to exchange technical knowledge, showcasing the latest technological achievements in the health industry and identifying domestic and foreign markets and customers were high on the agenda of the event.
Underlining the fact that a large part of technology and medical products is still being imported, the official emphasized the necessity of bolstering localization
Besides strengthening the required infrastructures, sufficient financial aid should be granted to companies with proven potentials to develop the domestic market and promote exports, he added.
According to Vatanpour, if domestic production gains momentum and imports of medical goods get curbed, capital flight worth $790 million could be reduced annually.
Also speaking at the conference, Jalil Kouhpayeh, the dean of IUMS, highlighted the growing need of moving toward knowledge-based products in the field of health.
“Taking the considerable capacity of digital medical and health industries for growth, startups have a great opportunity to flourish,” he said.
Fledgling tech firms and startups should get adequate technical, legal and financial support to expand their activities, pushing up the level of electronic health services in terms of number of users and quality.
Supportive Measures
Kouhpayeh further said as per arrangements being made with the university’s deputy for research and technology and the vice presidential office, a new accelerator is to be established in the university to support emerging startups.
“Startups active in health and medical fields can enjoy professional technical mentorship to build a strong base for their businesses,” he said.
Sajjad Moraveji, an authority with the vice presidential office, said Iran’s startup ecosystem cannot flourish until adequate support is given to the tech teams.
"So far, the best teams selected in startup events have been encouraged only with empty promises. After a while, when they receive no support or help from the top officials, they lose interest in their work," he said.
A startup accelerator is being established to provide fledgling tech firms active in field of medicine and health care with technical and financial support
Moraveji added that short-term aid does not really help startups.
"Constant mentorship and consultation are needed to ensure the strong development of the startup ecosystem in the country," he said.
Ali Alizadeh, a Health Ministry official, addressed the conference and said startups operating in the health sector mostly offer weight loss meals services and nutritional plans.
The lack of variety in services originates from a regulation gap in the area, he added, stressing that protecting the individuals’ personal information and privacy is a challenge in the way of teams willing to work on digital health services.
Alizadeh said due to the lack of precise rules, a huge part of the capacity in the field has remained unfulfilled.
“Setting up an integrated regulatory system to reduce the hurdles is essential,” he said.
New Regulations
To streamline the sector’s development, Alizadeh announced that a comprehensive directive on startups' data access and working rules is to be introduced soon.
"The directive, which is still in the preparation phase, will be notified as soon as it is finalized and confirmed by senior authorities," he added.
According to Alizadeh, experts are currently designing a website that will help startups obtain all the permits and licenses required for their activities.
"The website is expected to be launched in a month or so," he added, without elaborating.
On the sidelines of THL, a small-scale exhibition of technological products and devices related to the field of medication and health services, and developed by over 50 local startups, was also held.
