Dr. Zali, the president of Iranian Medical Council (IRIMC), highly appreciated ECFMG prompt response to the inquiries and concerns of Iranian medical doctors and IRIMC as their voice.

ECFMG verifies the authenticity of credentials related to physicians’ medical education, training, and registration/licensure directly with the institutions that issued the credentials. For being eligible to work or apply for higher education in U.S., Canada and Australia, Iranian medical credentials must be processed by ECFMG through active interaction with educational, health care, and medical registration/licensing institutions in Iran. On 29th May 2015, ECFMG released news indicating that processing of Iranian medical credentials has been suspended following restricts set by U.S. Department of Treasury. However, ECFMG expressed compassion and regret for affected clients and said:” ECFMG is aware of the potential impact of this situation on its clients and is working actively to resolve the situation."

In a letter sent on May 31 by Dr. Zali to ECFMG President, he urged resolving the situation and said:”Iranian Medical Council (IRIMC) is the nation's largest independent and Non-Governmental Organization in the field of medicine which regulates all Iranian healthcare professionals (except nurses).  Iranian Medical Council’s officials are elected by the direct vote of Iranian healthcare professionals and advocacy for healthcare professionals' and patients' right is one of its main objectives.

IRIMC is ready to actively cooperate with ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) due to amend the situation.”

Dr. Zali’s letter to ECFMG President:”

Dear Dr. N. Emmanuel G. Cassimatis,

The Honorable President and CEO of ECFMG,

There are many years that Iranian medical credentials are processed in ECFMG through active interaction with educational, health care, and medical registration/licensing institutions in Iran including Iranian Medical Council.

Many prominent Iranian physicians’ medical credentials have been processed so far and they have applied for higher education in U.S high-ranked universities. Nowadays, many noted and renowned Iranian physicians practice in U.S and have improved not only Americans’ lives but also considerably enhanced the quality of global healthcare through their scientific achievements.

According to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

“Everyone has the right to education.”

The current restrictions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury which impedes interactions between ECFMG and  Iranian  educational, health care, and medical registration/licensing institutions, deprives Iranian physicians from higher education and active global health partnership.

Education and specifically medical education is crucial for sustainable development and saving people’s lives throughout the globe. While WMA and WHO unite physicians to control diseases as well as improving people’s lives and while their leaders aim to cut across political issues in favor of promoting healthcare, such a restriction is contrary to the principles of justice, humanity and global health policy.

Iranian Medical Council urges ECFMG to lift the current restrictions imposed to Iranian physicians.

Iranian Medical Council (IRIMC) is the nation's largest independent and Non-Governmental Organization in the field of medicine which regulates all Iranian healthcare professionals (except nurses).  Iranian Medical Council’s officials are elected by the direct vote of Iranian healthcare professionals and advocacy for healthcare professionals' and patients' right is one of its main objectives.

IRIMC is ready to actively cooperate with ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) due to amend the situation.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Alireza Zali

President”

On 5th June 2015, ECFMG announced that it will resume processing of requests for verification of medical credentials issued by educational, health care, and medical registration/licensing institutions in Iran.