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Establishing an Observatory on Human Resources for Health (Hrh) in Iran: A Qualitative Case Study Publisher



Najafpour Z1 ; Arab M2 ; Shayanfard K3 ; Vakili Y4 ; Najafigharehbelagh M2
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Health Care Management, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
  2. 2. School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  4. 4. Faculty of Management, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

Source: Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran Published:2022


Abstract

Background: Many countries face critical challenges due to shortage and maldistribution of human resources for health (HRH). An HRH observatory can be used as a mechanism to monitor HRH issues and facilitate evidence-based decision-making. This study aims to identify the essential elements of an HRH observatory for Iran. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 30 key informants over two months since May 2019. Purposeful and snowball sampling methods were used. Each interview lasted a minimum of 60 min. Data analysis was performed using the content analysis approach. Results: The essential elements for integrating HRH information were categorized into the following themes: organizational structure, partnership, prerequisites for implementing HRH observatory, data management, and evidence-informed policymaking. Our results propose a national HRH observatory for Iran consisting of steering, technical and research boards, and also stakeholders' and research networks under the governance of the ministry of health and medical education (MOHME). It is required to make a comprehensive plan in several steps and arrangements based on the country's situation. The stakeholder's network was identified based on their role in HRH development and production of information and evidence. The main aim of the HRH observatory considers monitoring trends in patterns of the HRH for evidence-based decision-making and policy development. Our results propose an evidence development network consisting of a national HRH Research Center (HRHRC) and a cooperative network formed by several medical universities. Conclusion: We provide a comprehensive approach to establishing a national HRH observatory. We consider the HRH observatory as a cooperative initiative among key stakeholders to produce knowledge in order to improve human resource policymaking. The proposed HRH observatory model emphasizes networking and stakeholder involvement. © Iran University of Medical Sciences
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