On 15 June 2015, a panel of experts and influencers including the President of Iranian Medical Council, representatives from Iran's Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Health were in attendance, along with the Norwegian Red Cross, the Afghan Red Crescent Society and a number of other organizations were invited to a one-day round-table meeting on the challenges of protecting health-care workers from violence during conflicts and other emergencies that was hosted by IRCS and ICRC.

The President of Iranian Medical Council (IRIMC) as the highest elected health official addressed the meeting and made a major speech.

“Providing appropriate care to patients and victims of armed conflicts is the main role of health care professionals.” Dr. Zali remarked. IRIMC President added:”People of the war zones and battle fields suffer greatly and are in need of effective care and support.” Dr. Zali mentioned that violence against patients and health care providers is one of the most important yet neglected humanitarian issues today and said:”According to a published report by the ICRC which documented 2,398 incidents against health care providers in 11 countries, over 4200 people were victims of violence against health care. It also revealed that over 50% of attacks were around, inside or targeted health care facilities. 598 of health care workers were killed or beaten/wounded and over 700 medical transports were affected directly or indirectly.

So this is highly crucial to enhance the protection of health care providers and beneficiaries in war zones and other emergencies.”

He added:”Medical team in the armed conflict deal with an acute event which demands the need for preparedness on one end, and the need to respond quickly. Therefore timely administrating treatment to the wounded or sick is essential.”

In an official letter received by Iranian Medical Council earlier this week, Mr. Olivier Martin; Head of Mission at International Committee of Red Cross in Iran and Mr. Mohammad S. Mohammadi Araghi; IRCS Under-Secretary General for International Affairs and International Humanitarian Law highly appreciated Dr. Zali’s valuable speech.

Dr. Shima Naghavi, Director of International Affairs