Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran has a rich history dating back to 1899 when Mozafar-al-Din Shah, the crown prince of the Qajar Dynasty, required treatment for tuberculosis. French physicians recommended a place with fresh mountain air for his treatment. Consequently, a mansion was built in the northern mountains of Tehran for this purpose. After Mozafar-al-Din Shah’s death, the mansion gradually transformed into a sanitarium for TB patients, with additional buildings constructed to cater to patients from across the country.
In 1986, the hospital became a subdivision of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and began serving as a center for tuberculosis and lung diseases. The National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD) was established in 1992 and merged with the hospital, making it a renowned center for research and treatment in these fields.
Achievements:
- Transplantations: The hospital has achieved significant milestones, including lung, heart, simultaneous heart-lung, and heart-kidney transplants.
- Innovative Treatments: The hospital has pioneered treatments in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, such as addressing MDR TB Bacilli, and has performed the first tracheal transplant in sheep and artificial biologic trachea transplants.
- Advanced Research: Establishment of a bio-artificial liver, gene discovery related to leprosy, and creation of an artificial trachea using nanotechnology.
- National References: The hospital is home to national reference laboratories for HPV and respiratory viruses.
International Collaborations:
Masih Daneshvari Hospital has extensive international commitments, including:
- Serving as a WHO Collaborating Center for Tuberculosis Education and Tobacco Control.
- Collaborating with the Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Iran.
- Acting as the Secretariat Office for the Iranian Stop TB Committee and the IUATLD in the Middle East Region.
- Partnering with various international universities and organizations such as Utrecht University, Tufts, and Menzies.
Training and Workshops:
The hospital organizes numerous international training workshops and courses in collaboration with organizations such as KNCV Foundation, WHO, EMRO, and JICA. These include workshops on TB/HIV integration, MDR TB management, and international congresses on pulmonary diseases and organ donation.