Iran operates a two-tier healthcare system consisting of public facilities administered through the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and private hospitals concentrated in major cities. Tehran hosts approximately 130 hospitals including Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Day General Hospital, and Pars Hospital. Mashhad contains Imam Reza Hospital and Hasheminejad Kidney Center. Isfahan maintains Alzahra Hospital and Khorshid Hospital. Shiraz operates Namazi Hospital, affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences established in 1946. International standard private facilities exist primarily in Tehran, including Mehr Hospital and Atieh Hospital, where English-speaking physicians practice. Medical infrastructure diminishes outside provincial capitals. Remote areas including sections of Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut rely on small clinics with limited diagnostic equipment. Anyone with serious medical conditions requiring specialist care or regular monitoring should consult a physician before travel to assess whether Iran's healthcare distribution matches their needs.
Vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Iran include routine immunizations plus hepatitis A and typhoid for most travelers. Hepatitis B appears on CDC guidance for those who might have sexual contact with new partners, receive medical treatment, or get tattoos. Rabies vaccination enters consideration for travelers spending extended time in rural areas, working with animals, or engaging in activities like caving where bat contact becomes possible. Iran reported 18 human rabies cases in 2019 according to World Health Organization data, primarily in rural provinces. The country eliminated malaria from most regions, but the southeastern provinces of Sistan-Baluchestan and Hormozgan maintain seasonal transmission from March through November. The CDC classifies these areas as having malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, recommending antimalarial medication for travelers to affected districts. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required only from travelers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. The complete and current list of health requirements appears at the official Ministry of Health website or through consultation with travel medicine specialists.
Iran's elevation variations create distinct physiological challenges. Mount Damavand reaches 5,610 meters, and trekking routes commonly pass 4,000 meters. Acute mountain sickness symptoms typically begin above 2,500 meters in unacclimatized individuals. Tehran sits at approximately 1,200 meters elevation, but excursions to Damavand base camps or Alamut Valley highlands involve rapid altitude gain. The Alborz and Zagros mountain ranges contain numerous trekking destinations where multi-day ascents occur. Anyone planning high-altitude activities should understand acclimatization schedules, recognize early symptoms, and know descent protocols. Consultation with a physician regarding altitude illness prevention belongs in pre-travel planning for mountain activities.
Air quality in Tehran frequently exceeds World Health Organization guidelines, particularly during winter thermal inversions. The Tehran Air Quality Control Company reports PM2.5 concentrations that regularly reach unhealthy levels between November and February. The city's basin geography traps vehicle emissions and industrial output. The government periodically closes schools and offices during severe pollution episodes. Tabriz, Karaj, Ahvaz, and Isfahan also experience elevated particulate matter concentrations. Ahvaz ranked among the most polluted cities globally in WHO assessments from 2016 through 2018, driven by dust storms, oil industry activity, and regional atmospheric conditions. People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or cardiovascular conditions should consult physicians regarding extended stays in these cities. Real-time air quality indices are available through IQAir and local environmental monitoring agencies.
Summer temperatures in southern and central Iran exceed physiological stress thresholds. Dasht-e Lut recorded a land surface temperature of 70.7°C in 2005, measured by NASA satellite. Air temperatures in Ahvaz regularly surpass 48°C during July and August. The Persian Gulf coast maintains high humidity alongside extreme heat, creating dangerous wet-bulb conditions. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke risks increase substantially during summer in Khuzestan Province, Bandar Abbas, and desert regions. Winter conditions in mountainous areas present opposite challenges. Northwestern provinces including Ardabil experience temperatures below minus 20°C. The Zagros and Alborz mountains receive heavy snowfall, with some passes closing between December and March. Layered clothing, proper hydration protocols, and recognition of heat illness or hypothermia symptoms should guide preparation for Iran's temperature extremes.
Tap water quality varies significantly across Iran. Tehran's municipal water system, managed by the Tehran Water and Wastewater Company, treats water to national standards, but aging infrastructure in some neighborhoods allows contamination between treatment and delivery. Many residents in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz drink bottled water as standard practice. Smaller cities and rural areas often have less reliable treatment systems. The Iranian Students News Agency reported in 2018 that approximately 1,800 villages lacked access to treated water. Traveler's diarrhea remains common among visitors, typically caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Shigella, or Salmonella species. Bottled water brands including Damavand and Vata are widely available in cities. Boiling water for one minute at elevations below 2,000 meters, or three minutes above that altitude, provides effective disinfection. Chemical treatments and portable filters offer alternatives when bottled water is unavailable. Ice in beverages, raw vegetables washed in local water, and street food items involving water contact carry contamination risk.
Pharmacies in Iran stock a broad range of medications, including many drugs that require prescriptions in North America or Europe. The Iranian Pharmacy Organization oversees approximately 13,000 pharmacies nationwide as of 2020 data. Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and other major cities have 24-hour pharmacies. Antibiotics, antihypertensics, diabetes medications, and most chronic disease treatments are available, though brand names differ from Western markets. Generic medications manufactured by Iranian pharmaceutical companies including Darou Pakhsh, Sobhan Oncology, and Iran Hormone meet domestic regulatory standards set by the Food and Drug Administration of Iran. Specialized medications for rare conditions or newest-generation biologics may be unavailable or require importation. Travelers dependent on specific medications should carry sufficient supply for the entire trip plus additional days for unexpected delays. Original packaging with prescription labels assists customs clearance. The Iranian customs website provides medication import regulations. Carrying a physician's letter describing medical necessity and listing generic drug names helps if replacement becomes necessary. Insulin, epinephrine auto-injectors, and similar temperature-sensitive medications require appropriate storage during Iran's summer heat.
Dental services in Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan include clinics with Western training and modern equipment. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences operates dental schools producing approximately 300 graduates annually. Emergency dental care exists in provincial capitals, though English-speaking dentists concentrate in Tehran and tourist-oriented cities. Routine dental work costs substantially less than in Europe or North America, leading to some medical tourism. Quality varies widely, and emergency treatment differs from elective procedures. Travelers should maintain regular dental examinations before departure to minimize the probability of acute issues arising during travel.
Mental health considerations for Iran include the stress of navigating international sanctions affecting banking, communication restrictions including filtered internet and limited social media access, and cultural adjustment requirements. Iran's dress code mandates hijab for all women regardless of nationality or religion, enforced through Guidance Patrols. Men face restrictions on shorts and sleeveless shirts in public. The February 2023 protests and subsequent government responses created an environment of heightened security presence. Travelers with anxiety disorders, depression, or other mental health conditions should discuss these contextual factors with healthcare providers. Psychiatric medications including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines are available in Iranian pharmacies, but traveler supply should account for potential difficulties obtaining refills. The Iranian Psychological Association maintains directories of English-speaking psychologists in Tehran, though availability of mental health services falls far below Western standards.