The historical backgrounds of the Ministry of Health foundation in Iran

The early efforts for promotion of public health measures and prevention of fatal epidemic diseases in Iran date back to the second half of the 19th century. Based on historical records, the informal protosanitary councils had existed since the early 1850s, but a new formal health institution called “Sanitary Council”, or “Majles-e Hefz al-Sehheh” was founded in 1881. Then, it was reestablished as a permanent council in 1904. The Sanitary Council was the only major public health authority under the auspices of “Ministry of the Interior” up to 1920. Then the Ministry of Health and Charity Affairs or “Vezarat-e Sehhyeh va Omuor-e Kheiryyeh” was founded in 1920, but it was dissolved in 1921. Between 1921 and 1941, there was no ministry of public health in Iran and during this period, the public health and medical affairs were mananged by the Public Health Administration known as Sehhyeh Koll-e Mamlekati that was established in 1926 and finally in 1941, the Ministry of Health (Vezarat-e Behdari) was founded.