Emphasizing the social determinants of health, Dr. Saeed Sardari, Chancellor of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS), underscored the critical importance of implementing health impact assessments in macro-level national projects, streamlining healthcare demands, and adhering to national population policies.

According to WebDA-Zanjan, speaking at the second one-day symposium of presidents and experts from the Secretariats of Health and Food Security of medical universities and faculties across Macro-Region 6, hosted by ZUMS, Dr. Sardari stated that approximately 80 percent of the determinants influencing community health promotion lie beyond the direct purview of the healthcare system. Consequently, fulfilling health objectives depends heavily on close and continuous cooperation with organizations outside the Ministry of Health.

Referring to previous experiences in health socialization and challenges arising from financial resource constraints and structural issues, he added that the General Health Policies promulgated by the Supreme Leader serve as a comprehensive, strictly scientific document aligned with modern preventive and policymaking approaches. Meticulous attention to its provisions will pave the way for resolving numerous systemic challenges. Citing the sixth clause of the General Health Policies regarding the assurance of food security, Dr. Sardari noted that equitable public access to a healthy dietary basket constitutes a foundational principle upon which food security councils and commissions are established.Emphasizing the necessity of managing healthcare demand and preventing induced services, the ZUMS president stated: “Preventing induced demand in medication prescriptions and clinical procedures—based on referral hierarchy systems, clinical guidelines, and rigorous monitoring—plays an essential role in cost management. Achieving sustainable success in the healthcare system requires rigorous adherence to these indicators.”

Dr. Sardari identified the formulation of health impact assessments for macro-level national laws and projects as another key strategy, asserting that establishing comprehensive service packages based on the overlap of basic and complementary insurances, alongside instituting health impact assessments for national and provincial projects, represents a vital tool for curbing risk factors and promoting public health.Recalling the functions of the Secretariat of Health and Food Security pillars, he added that capacities such as the People’s Participation House, the Council of Health Messengers, the Center for Strategic Documents and Evidence, the Health Monitoring Committee, the Health Think Tank, and the Committee for Safeguarding Public Rights in the Health System must be reinforced through operational programs to establish an effective and structured connection between the university and society.Furthermore, Dr. Sardari emphasized continuous engagement with the Provincial Planning and Development Council; the Working Group on Social, Cultural, Health, Women, and Family Affairs; and the Board of Trustees, noting that organizational restructuring will broaden the scope of these interactions.In conclusion, the ZUMS Chancellor highlighted the prompt implementation of general population policies and the elevation of fertility rates to replacement levels—prior to the closure of the country’s demographic window—as an urgent priority, stressing the rigorous follow-up of resolutions and campaigns promulgated by the President and the Minister of Health.