Scientific Authority in Health Sciences; Challenges and Solutions

Introduction

Access to the scientific authority in the field of health by the year 1435  based on the outlook of scientific authority stated by our Supreme Leader requires the development of human resources. Besides, our scientists  should be familiar with science and technology,  utilize the Islamic teachings with a spirit of scientific endeavor, and rely on their rich talent. Of course,   careful strategic planning with a national will is also necessary.

 The exact pathology of health will enable us to identify strengths and weaknesses. By knowing the weaknesses and threats in the field of education, research, planning, implementation and monitoring of strengths, we can improve our knowledge. We can make a good use of our human resources and be productive on the international stages.

Appreciating and utilizing the "knowledge and expertise" of our  innovative professors with accepted international articles can create opportunities for the young scientists to become familiar with modern medical sciences. Innovation in scientific authority provides an opportunity for our scientists to be the pioneer of health in the world.

 History

A survey on the Supreme Leader's statements  indicates that he, more than others, wants to prepare a comprehensive scientific map and also stresses on its necessity  in Iran. 

Our great Leader, in Mordad 1385,  emphasized on providing a comprehensive scientific map in his speech for the university presidents. To achieve the objectives of the 20-year perspective,  operational strategies and scheduled planning are needed (1).

It is stated that, by 1404, Iran will be an authority and pioneer on the stage of science and technology. This can be obtained by believing in Cod's wishes, reviving Islamic-Iranian culture, improving justice and employing the scientists who are pious, specialist, creative and innovative (2).

Our supreme leader, in his speech to the elite on 12/06/86, said:

After fifty years, our country should be at the highest level of science and technology and become an authority so that anyone who wishes to know the sciences has to learn Persian (3).   

In Shahrivar 89, our supreme leader emphasized on an administrative plan, updating comprehensive scientific map, adjusting the five-year development plan and supervising exactly the performance (4) .At a meeting with young elites on 14 / 7/89 he stated:
"Before, we had some progresses and investment based on a specific person or group, but now we need to promote our sciences for which all the people should take part. We must distribute an endless chain of all disciplines (5).

Considering our comprehensive scientific map of health, our knowledge should be responsive to different social health problems.

Our scientists should be innovative and participate in international meetings (6).

In health perspective of 1404, influential participation on international stages has been greatly emphasized. This can be accomplished by standardizing our scientific activities, promoting quality and achieving the goals. We should have international cooperation while keeping our honor and Islamic thoughts.

To be an authority, we must promote our medial knowledge to the highest level. Then, we can offer reliable services in the fields of health and medicine (7).

Our supreme Leader, on 29/6/93, stated that Iran is going to become the center of scientific articles (8).

To reach the peak of science in the field of health, the pathology of existing conditions as well as identifying the strengths and weaknesses should be performed so that we can eliminate the weaknesses and support the strengths.

Methods

In this narrative review,  the strategies for  scientific authority stated by our Supreme Leader  are investigated through literature review and note taking from the library references .(since Mordad 85 to 94 ), The governmental documents such as the perspective by the year 1404 (since77 to 82. ), a comprehensive scientific map for health system (since 89 to 93.), the general policy of "science and technology" (since 86 to 87), and the comments given by health authorities, faculty members and students have been surveyed.

Results

After surveying the governmental documents and the perspective of scientific comprehensive map for health and also studying the different articles, the following items can be considered:

Challenges

1)   Progresses to some degree in certain sections and fields

2)   Progresses based on individuals comparing with the accelerated growth of science

3)   Submitting repeated subjects in theses and articles

4)   Unfinished research projects without priority and lack of monitoring in scientific products

5)   Poor quality of researches

6)   Lack of full time specialists in research and educational centers

7)   Lack of access to needed technologies in the field of health care systems in health centers and universities

8)    Financial problems in gaining the governmental approved resources for researches 

9)   Lack of reliable data in the fields of health and statistics

10) Lack of scientific diplomacy and cooperation with developed countries

11) Difficult access to the latest resources and information in the

in the field of health

12) The economic problems for researches and professors so that they have to work in different sections to earn money

13) Lack of team-work spirit, creativity, innovation and exploitation

14) Lack of close relationship between researchers and population in the field of health

15) Lack of employing the youth for executive management positions

16) Weakness of the rules and administrative procedures as well as difficulties in their practice

17) Lack of cooperation with cultural centers, universities, high schools and Islamic centers

18)  Bureaucracy obstacles in educational, research and academic management

19) Lack of coordination between basic sciences and clinical

      Practices

20) Lack of promoting Islamic-Iranian culture in the field of health

21) Lack of systematic education and training of human resources in the field of health in order to train Iranian Islamic style in nutrition, health and disease prevention

22) Obstacles in employing the elites and prevention of brain drain  

23) Bureaucracy obstacles for employing the young elites

24) Lack of investment, especially in education, clinical aspects, and research and health promotion

Solutions

Establishing scheduled and regular programs during the 50-year perspective for appropriate development with adequate credits for scientific authority demands:

1) Determining the exact current situation and the ideal situation with a horizon of long-term, medium-term and short-term goals for higher education
2) Exact information about the needs for international collaboration and addressing  the priorities
3) Supporting the discussions belonging to theoretical education and research
4) Reviewing the structures and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the scientific institutions, research and technology
5) Establishing opportunities in the fields of stem cells ,molecular medicine, medicinal plants, Nanobiotechnology and new sciences
6) Developing human resources and increasing their productivity
7) Effective integration of education, training and skills with  health researches
8) Conducting and supporting non-state investment in education, research and treatment

9) Directing and employing  the elite in different sections by facilitating the rules
10) Relying on capabilities and benefits of  our country in accord with the geographical locations
11) The importance of disease prevention in our researches and education with detailed knowledge of local conditions and problems 

12) Paying attention to new drugs, information management, traditional medicine, medical equipment, cellular and molecular medicine, gene therapy, biological and technological products

13) Relationship between basic sciences with clinical practices       

14) Determining the exact current situation and the ideal situation with a horizon of long-term, medium-term and short-term goals                                                      

15) Considering the interdisciplinary sciences between basic sciences and clinical sciences

16) Informing the community on the addiction and how to deal with it
17) Food safety
18) Giving priority to the sciences and technology responsive to the needs of public health
19) Effective participation in  international stages with dignity and interest
20) Evolving the innovation cycle
21) Emphasis on science and its reproduction
22) Appreciating the development, research and theories
23) Designing and developing  Islamic-Iranian model of health and trying to create Islamic lifestyle in the field of health

24) Utilization of the latest data in the field of medicine

25) Effective use of national specialized capacities

26) Giant strides for standardization of activities and qualification of scientific products
27) Offering innovative health services and the creating wealth through exporting health products
28) active participation in education and research in Islamic world and other developed countries.
29) Utilizing full-time faculties regarding their welfare and living conditions

30) Organizing governmental and non-governmental scientific data and accessibility to them
31) Focusing on the research in post- graduate programs and supporting the scientific publications
32) Considering the self-esteem, team work, creativity and quality promotion in educational settings based on Islamic teachings (10).

33) Holding specialized and advanced courses in short-term programs 34) Developing research structures and employing the interested students in this field.
35) Allocating of funds to the fields with priority (11).
36) Creating new schools for new disciplines and healthy lifestyle by using Islamic teachings

37) Increasing the number of research networks, particularly in the field of Medical Sciences
38) Increasing the quality of products, scientific and theoretical studies
39) Considering the number of medical researchers per million in community based on gender, governmental and nongovernmental

40) Approving new disciplines based on health priorities
41) Utilizing and supporting the completed research projects
42) Great emphasis on innovation
43) Avoiding isolated activities in research and educational centers
44) Balanced development in all the fields with priority allowing the regional conditions and increasing the scientific products

45) Emphasis on  appropriate administrative programs, regular monitoring with careful supervision
46) Observing, monitoring and anticipating  the health conditions  not only in Iran but also all over the world
47) Directing the activities in the field of education, research, technology and innovation toward the path which leads to solving problems and finally reach the authority of sciences
48) Educating and empowering human sources with emphasis on training pious, self-esteem, creative, innovative, capable and motivated scientists whose thoughts are based on Islamic values ​​and people’s needs
49) Employing young elites specialized in the fields of health, education and management as well as utilizing the advices of experienced professors                                                                              

50) Active collaboration with other countries, particularly countries in the region and the Islamic world .to promote science diplomacy
51) Emphasis on empowering the private sector in health systems
52) Emphasis on organizing research management system

53) Gaining the experiences of developed countries                        

54) Obtaining the scientific authority in postgraduate courses                                                                                                              

55) Regular efforts in conducting research activities in the region

Discussion

As we know the mission of ministry of health is concerned with prevention, treatment, education and researches in order to achieve its objectives by 1404. Also, this ministry is expected to gain a high rank in international medical sciences. Our country should not only be creative and productive in different sciences but should also be an authority in medical education.

The priorities, challenges, and problems should be considered in accord with the local obligations. Furthermore, for a healthy Islamic lifestyle, scheduled programs, pious scientists, governmental documents and standpoints for comprehensive scientific map of health are essential. We should plan to promote health education in the fields of nutrition and disease prevention and learn the teachings taken from the Holy Quran as well as determine the weaknesses and strengths in order to offer a proper model of Islamic and healthy lifestyle.

The communicable diseases should be prevented and to have a healthy community, necessary measures should be done in preventive medicine and food safety.

Up-to-date researches are necessary for the treatment of acutely-ill patients in clinical settings and consequently our community will gain health and relief. We can be a representative of health education and improve the tourism medicine. Academic educations have to be used in health systems and precise planning should be designed for establishing new courses with priority.

The professors familiar with Islamic healthy lifestyle can help us in the above procedures. New sciences, modern technology and interdisciplinary sciences are the cornerstones for both medical education and medical students. This will result in having specialists in different fields. We can satisfy the needs of our country and the other countries through applying skills and creating innovations.

The research activities and international collaborations should be appreciated in order to attract foreign students. By eliminating the bureaucracy obstacles, health systems can employ the young elites and support them. In addition, social facilities should be provided for faculty members to do their best in research activities. Unjustified claims and unethical actions should not be used in our scientific articles. In order to gain the authority of sciences, we should improve the human-based point of view because human resources are the cornerstones for innovation, technology and research development.

In order to satisfy the needs of social health and understand the priorities in health systems, the following items are important:

* Developing and equipping the research and technology institutions

* Being effectively Present in international stages

* Continuing the innovation processes

* Developing the sources and being clear and responsive

* Revolutionizing the health education system and facilitating the bureaucracy regulations

* Regarding universities as bases of sciences

* Converting the scientific discourse into the social dominant one

* Making policy for health economics

* Promoting health and its infrastructures

* Paying attention to basic sciences and investing in the fields of drug production, medical equipment, traditional medicine, molecular medicine, stem cells and nanotechnology

* Offering health services with emphasis on the teamwork and family physician

* Paying attention to the elites and managing the human resources

God will help us to gain the authority of sciences and, of course, faithful human resources and proper planning are needed. Research institutions, lab equipment and management systems should be improved. The medium and long-term programs must be administered and monitored. Also, permanent and continuous efforts of our scientists will orient our country to the rank of scientific authority in the field of health.