Enayatollah Poostchi

Enayatollah Poostchi (In Persian language: عنایت الله پوستچی) (born 1895 (1274 shamsi), died 1952 (1331 Shamsi)) was an Iranian merchant and philanthropist who endowed part of his wealth for the establishment of a charitable ophthalmology clinic and hospital in Shiraz.^[1]

Little detailed information is available about Poostchi’s life. Based on available documents and evidence, Mirza Enayatollah Poostchi, shortly before his death, endowed part of his wealth to help others. In June 1952, he travelled to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. During his stay, he frequently discussed with relatives and acquaintances his intention to establish an ophthalmology clinic and hospital, which he considered one of his main goals.^[2][3]

In 1952, dangerous eye diseases such as trachoma, cataracts, glaucoma, and chronic corneal conditions were widespread in Shiraz and its surrounding counties, often leading to blindness in some cases due to limited medical and health facilities.

Upon returning from his trip, Poostchi purchased a 2,517 m² plot of land in one of Shiraz’s prime locations, Zand Street, and allocated 400,000 tomans from his assets for the construction of the hospital. After his death in 1952, the then-trustee sold part of the donor’s personal property to raise additional funds, and construction of the facility began in 1958 (1337 SH).^[4]

Due to various factors, including insufficient budget, construction took several years, and in 1963 (1342 SH) the 1,500 m² building was completed and became operational. That same year, modern medical equipment from Germany was purchased, and the hospital began admitting patients in need from across Iran.^[4]

In 1963, the hospital staff included: Borjis (hospital director), Mohammad Hossein Jamalabadi (ophthalmologist), Mohammad Bagher Adeli (pharmacist), Mohammad Hadi Tagha (accountant), Ghasem Honarvar (guard), and Asad Zare (gardener). Over time, with increasing patient numbers from southern Iran, more doctors and hospital staff were added in cooperation with Shiraz University.^[4]

To provide sustainable funding for the hospital, Poostchi purchased half of the village of Akbarabad Ghoran, which he endowed to the ophthalmology hospital under endowment deed No. 16925.^[5]

In 2000 (1379 SH), in cooperation with Shiraz University and the Fars Endowments Office, the hospital opened an ophthalmic research department, considered one of its most important sections.^[6]