Shiraz Azodi hospital and its role in Advancing medical knowledge

With the Buyid dynasty day to day powering and conquering central and western regions of the Islamic world, especially Baghdad and Shiraz, health-related activities including building and equipping the hospital accelerated. One of these centers was Shiraz Azodi hospital, which was built under the order of Azod od-Dowleh Panah (Fana) Khusraw in 971-973 AD. This interest in medical sciences resulted in founding Shiraz Medical Field. Despite the importance of this hospital, there is limited published information about it, which reveals the need for more extensive research. Accordingly, recognizing the role of this hospital in linking Jundishapuri’s medical knowledge and the Islamic era is of great importance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explain this hospital status in the Buyid dynasty based on historical sources that are available.

In this study by descriptive-analytical method, Shiraz Azodi hospital was studied from structural and organizational aspects such as therapeutic and educational functions.

The results of this study showed that Shiraz Azodi hospital was managed like Jundishapur Hospital. Azodi hospital had its specific organizational structure and departments, which were developed over time and as a result of medical achievements. This hospital was established and managed with the financial support of the government and the receiving charity for many years and was known mainly because of its great library. This hospital was also active in transferring research achievements and training physicians such as Abu Maher Shirazi and Ali Ebn Al-Abbas-al-Majusi (Haly Abbas).

The results of the study indicate that the support of Azod od-Dowleh led to the improvement of the health system in Shiraz over four centuries, which resulted in attracting prominent scientists and physicians and transmitting their medical information through the preparation of books and educating other students.