Support Services

Eligibility

Every child under 18 years of age with a positive pathological report who is being treated in a governmental or university-affiliated hospital can receive MAHAK’s support services. This department operates through MAHAK offices located in nine hospitals and medical centers in Tehran.

If a child diagnosed with cancer is not covered by insurance the first step is to register and insure the patient and their family before beginning treatment. Support services include coverage of medical diagnostics, medicines, hospitalization, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, accommodation and transportation (60% of patients come from provinces outside Tehran).

MAHAK also covers the costs of psychological services, clothing, recreational programs and provides assistance with living and educational expenses.

Social Work

A cancer diagnosis for a child affects each family differently but all share one challenge in common: the stress and tension experienced by both the patient and their loved ones. Reducing this stress is a central responsibility of MAHAK’s oncology social workers.

Our oncology social workers are trained in psycho-social evaluation, individual and family counseling, educational interventions and resource distribution to enhance quality of life. They act as facilitators between the medical team, patients and families and coordinate the provision of psycho-social services, crisis intervention, emotional and financial support and insurance guidance.

Psychology

The Psychology Unit, as part of the Support Services Department, accompanies children and their families from diagnosis through the entire treatment process with the aim of preserving their quality of life.

Services include individual counseling, parenting support, group therapy, play therapy (individual and group) and pre-bereavement counseling. These interventions help families adapt to new circumstances, manage stress and reduce the psychological burden of illness.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic psychologists provided services in person at MAHAK Hospital and other hospitals in Tehran. With the onset of the pandemic social and economic anxiety increased significantly and the need for psycho-social services grew. To address this the Psychology Unit expanded its services remotely including phone counseling.

These services are also available in pediatric hematology-oncology wards at public and university hospitals across Iran including Kashan, Zanjan, Urmia, Zahedan, Ahvaz, Kerman, Rasht, Babol, Sari, Gorgan, Shiraz, Shahrekord, Khorramabad, Bushehr, Qom, Karaj, Hamedan, Sanandaj, Bandar Abbas, Kermanshah, Yazd, Babolsar, Isfahan, Arak, Mashhad, Yasuj, Tabriz, Ardabil and Semnan.

Information and Statistics

The Information and Statistics Unit collects and analyzes essential data related to patients and services. This information supports decision-making, planning and continuous improvement of MAHAK’s support services ensuring that resources are used effectively to meet the needs of children and families.