The introduction of Benefactors of Pasteur Institute of Iran and the Role of the Waqf Tradition in the Establishment and Promotion of this Institute

Waqf (donation) has a long history in human history and can have a high impact on economics, society, and culture. One of the most influential fields of the waqf is on human health. This study is a descriptive study. In this article, after reviewing the tradition of waqf and charity throughout history, and the experiences of charity in other countries, including the Pasteur Institute of Paris, the role of waqf in establishment and promotion of Pasteur Institute of Iran is reviewed and the benefactors of this institute are introduced. The headquarters of the Pasteur Institute of Iran in Tehran and its branches in Shemiran, Khalid Islambouli, Amol (north) and Hamadan (west) are donated by the charities for diagnosis, production of vaccines, and research in the field of contagious diseases’ control and prevention.  In Iran, most cases of waqf on health have been dedicated in the field of treatment, but Pasteur Institute of Iran is a successful example in the field of public health and specialized health services. One of the ways to expand waqf is to explain the effects of these endowments in society. Investigating the role and influence of Pasteur Institute of Iran in promoting public health can be a good explanation of the impact of these endowments in the field of health. It is suggested that Pasteur institute of Iran and its persistent effects be explained to the beneficent, so that some of the future endowments be extended to areas such as public health and diagnostic services.