Hospitals and Medical Care in Tehran

Emergency numbers

The following national emergency numbers work throughout Iran, including Tehran:

• Police: 110
• Ambulance / emergency medical services (EMS): 115
• Fire department: 125

A National Travel Call Center for tourist information operates on 09629.

Pre-hospital emergency care is run by the Emergency Medical Services Organization of Iran, part of the Ministry of Health. The organization was established in 1975 and operates ground ambulances, motorcycle ambulances, and air ambulances.

If you call 115, the operator may speak little or no English. If possible, have a Persian-speaker place the call or relay your location.

Hospitals with international-patient support

For foreign visitors, the practical choice is a private hospital with an International Patient Department (IPD). IPDs provide language support (commonly English, and at some hospitals Arabic and French), translation, and assistance with administrative matters. Staff at general and public hospitals may speak little or no English.

The following Tehran private hospitals operate International Patient Departments:

• Nikan Hospital
• Pars Hospital, with English, Arabic, and French support
• Erfan Hospital, with English, Persian, and Arabic support
• Iran Mehr Hospital
• Jam Hospital

Reported figures for these hospitals (bed counts and founding years) include: Nikan Hospital (founded 2011, 270-plus beds); Pars Hospital (186 beds); Erfan Hospital (around 180 beds); Iran Mehr Hospital (founded 1975); Jam Hospital (founded 1968). These details come from medical-tourism listings rather than official hospital records, so treat them as approximate and confirm current information directly with the hospital.

For cardiac care specifically, the Rajaie Cardiovascular Center (founded 1974) is a heart specialty hospital in Tehran.

Most large hospitals operate 24-hour emergency rooms, but whether a specific hospital guarantees 24-hour ER access for foreign walk-ins was not individually verified. If you have a known condition or anticipate needing care, contact the hospital's IPD in advance to confirm emergency arrangements and current capabilities.

Pharmacies

Tehran has round-the-clock pharmacies, known in Persian as shabaneh-roozi (شبانه‌روزی), in most districts. These supply medication outside normal business hours. Specific branch addresses and hours change, so confirm a current 24-hour pharmacy locally or through a hotel rather than relying on an old listing.

If you take prescription medication, bring an adequate supply for your trip along with a copy of the prescription, as availability of specific brands and formulations cannot be guaranteed.

Paying for care

Payment for hospital and clinic care is generally required in cash, in Iranian rial, and often up front.

Foreign Visa, Mastercard, and other non-Iranian payment cards do not function in Iran because of international sanctions. You cannot rely on a foreign credit or debit card to pay for treatment, and online banking access from within Iran may also be blocked or unavailable. Plan to carry enough cash, in a form you can exchange to rial, to cover potential medical costs. These conditions apply as of June 2026; confirm the current situation locally before you travel.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory for an Iranian visa; this requirement has been in place since 2011.

Most Western travel insurers exclude Iran from their coverage because of sanctions. As a result, travellers typically need an Iran-specific policy that is recognised for the visa. Such policies are marketed with cover in the region of EUR 10,000, though pricing and exact terms vary; as of June 2026, confirm the current cost and coverage with the insurer or visa service before you travel.

Medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended given the limits on payment by foreign card and the constraints on consular assistance described below.

Consular assistance

The United States travel advisory for Iran is at Level 4, "Do Not Travel" (as of December 5, 2025). The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with Iran, and Switzerland acts as the protecting power representing US interests. This limits the emergency consular help available to US citizens.

As of June 2026, the status of consular emergency assistance has been changing: the Swiss Embassy's US Foreign Interests Section in Tehran was reported temporarily closed. If you are a US citizen, re-check the current operability of consular services before travel; US citizens in Iran needing help can contact the US Embassy in Bern, Switzerland. Citizens of other countries should check their own government's current advisory and confirm whether their embassy in Tehran is operating.

Health risks

Air pollution

Air pollution is a significant seasonal health risk in Tehran. It is worst in winter, when temperature inversions trap emissions over the city. PM2.5 levels routinely exceed World Health Organization guidelines. Air quality fluctuates and should be treated as variable rather than a fixed figure; Tehran is frequently ranked among the world's most polluted cities in winter. People in sensitive groups, including those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, should monitor current air-quality readings and take precautions such as limiting outdoor exertion on high-pollution days.

Road traffic

Road-traffic injury is a major health risk. Iran recorded approximately 23 road deaths per 100,000 population in 2022, among the highest rates in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Rates in Tehran and Alborz are lower than the national average. Take care as a pedestrian and when travelling by road.

Practical summary

• Save the emergency numbers before you arrive: 110 police, 115 ambulance/EMS, 125 fire.
• Use a private hospital with an International Patient Department for English-language support; contact the IPD in advance where possible.
• Carry enough cash in a form exchangeable to rial; foreign cards do not work in Iran.
• Obtain an Iran-specific travel insurance policy with medical evacuation cover; it is compulsory for the visa.
• Confirm current air-quality readings, especially in winter, and take precautions if you are in a sensitive group.