Explaining the Structure and Health Infrastructure of Sistan and Baluchestan Province: Capacities, Challenges, and Proposed Strategies

Background and Aim: This study examines the health status of Sistan and Baluchestan province and analyzes it from the perspective of capacities, challenges, and necessities for sustainable development. Its main goal is to provide practical suggestions for the comprehensive development of the province.
Methods: The data for this study were obtained using statistics from the Statistical Center of Iran, studies conducted at the provincial level, information published by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, as well as experiences gained in the world and the province, and interviews with some stakeholders.
Results: The province’s important capacities include an extensive health network, local human resources such as community health workers (Behvarz), the capacity of universities of medical sciences, and the possibility of inter-sectoral and international cooperation to control border diseases. On the other hand, the province faces serious problems such as geographical dispersion, lack of infrastructure, lack of specialized personnel, management instability, unscientific interventions, poverty, malnutrition, lack of clean water, and high prevalence of diseases such as thalassemia, tuberculosis, diabetes, and hypertension. Also, this study shows that many of the province’s health indicators are still lower than the national average. The average age of those who die in this province is 50 years, which is the lowest compared to other provinces in the country and 20 years behind the highest province. Studies show that although more than 50% of the province's population is located in rural areas, unfortunately, the health and treatment network of this province, especially in Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences and Chabahar Faculty of Medical Sciences, has not yet been completed.
Conclusion: Appropriate strategies in the short term to resolve problems include selecting permanent managers with a plan, justifying policymakers, completing health houses and health centers, and increasing mobile health teams, doctors, midwives, emergency services, and medicine. In the medium term, establishing a regional reference center for border infectious disease control, targeted training of local specialist personnel, strengthening the infrastructure of safe water in villages, and developing roads, and in the long term, developing a comprehensive local health plan are appropriate to improve the situation. Overall, strategic attention to the health of this province is essential for national development because it can become a model for the entire country, especially deprived areas.