MEDICAL SCIENCE AND RESEARCH IN IRAN

The main indicators of the scientific status of a country are determined by research and development (R&D) expenditures, the ratio of gross domestic expenditure on R&D to gross domestic product, the personnel involved in the scientific research sector and finally by scientific publications and their ranking by well established scientific institutions. During the past two decades, Iran has enjoyed considerable expansion of trained individuals in the fields of medicine. The number of universities, faculty members and graduate students in different levels of medical sciences have increased manifold. There has been progress in public health and medical care delivery documented by reduced neonatal, infant and maternal mortality rate and increased life expectancy and curbing of infectious diseases. Despite the relative success in promoting health, medical care delivery and a surge of medical publication in Iran, contribution at the international level is not so promising. In order to achieve the desirable status in the world, performing high quality research programs and promotion of scientific publications are mandatory.