According to the report, released by the public relation department of the ministry, the number of health centers has reached 5100 in April, 2009 from 4560 in April, 2005 in the country.
The number of family doctors also rose from 1350 in April 2005 to 5922 in April 2009.
There was also a drop in number of maternal deaths over the past years. The rate reached 22 deaths per 100,000 live births in April, 2009 from 27 deaths per 100,000 live births in April, 2005.
Africa, the poorest continent in the world, records the highest maternal mortality in the world, with about 900 deaths per 100,000 live births, the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) report showed.
Based on the ministry’s report, Iran’s infant mortality rate also decreased from 20.84 per 100,000 live births in April, 2005 to less than 18 per 100,000 live births, and under-five mortality rate has reduced to less than 20 in 2009 from 26 in 2005.
According to the World Factbook's 2009 estimates, Angola with 180.21 infant deaths per 100,000 live births has the world highest infant mortality rate, and Singapore with 2.31 infant deaths per 100,000 live births has the lowest infant death rate in the world.
The ministry’s report also said that HIV prevalence rate fell from 3.24% in 2005 to 1.75% in 2009.
The number of hospitals, pharmacies, ambulances, laboratories, emergency centers, medical equipments, and university capacities for medical courses, as well as the number of research centers also rose over the past four years, the report showed.
SN/
MNA
END