Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
Health Care Financing in Iran; Is Privatization a Good Solution?



Davari M1 ; Haycox A2 ; Walley T3
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Health Management and Economics Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  2. 2. Regional and International Economic Development, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
  3. 3. Department of Health Services Research, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Source: Iranian Journal of Public Health Published:2012

Abstract

Background: This paper considers a range of issues related to the financing of health care system and relevant government policies in Iran. Methods: This study used mixed methods. A systematic literature review was undertaken to identify relevant publications. This was supplemented by hand searching in books and journals, including government publications. The issues and uncertainties identified in the literature were explored in detail through semi-structured interviews with key informants. These were triangulated with empirical evidence in the form of the literature, government statistics and independent expert opinions to validate the views expressed in the interviews. Results: The systematic review of published literature showed that no previous publication has addressed issues relating to the financing of healthcare services in Iran. However, a range of opinion pieces outlined issues to be explored further in the interviews. Such issues summarised into four main categories. Conclusion: The health care market in Iran has faced a period in which financial issues have enhanced managerial complexity. Privatization of health care services would appear to be a step too far in assisting the system to confront its challenges at the current time. The most important step toward solving such challenges is to focus on a feasible, relevant and comprehensive policy, which optimises the use of health care resources in Iran. © 2007 Iranian Journal of Public Health.
Related Docs
View other Related Docs
1. The Iranian Health Insurance System; Past Experiences, Present Challenges and Future Strategies, Iranian Journal of Public Health (2012)
2. Pharmaceutical Policy and Market in Iran: Past Experiences and Future Challenges, Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research (2011)
3. Strategies for Reducing Expenditures in Iran's Health Transformation Plan: A Qualitative Study, Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2018)
4. Accountable Hospital Governance Structure Rules in Iran: A Qualitative Document Analysis, International Journal of Health Governance (2024)
5. Iranian Health Financing System Challenges to Promote Health Outcomes: Qualitative Study, Journal of Education and Health Promotion (2023)
6. Fairness in Household Financial Contribution to the Iran’S Healthcare System From 2008 to 2018, BMC Research Notes (2021)
7. Challenges in the Elderly Care System in Iran: A Qualitative Study, Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (2023)
8. Health-Care Reform Implementation Challenges at Suburban Areas in Isfahan Province: A Qualitative Study, Journal of Education and Health Promotion (2021)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Mostafa Amini Rarani (5)
Reza Khadivi (4)
Other Related Docs
9. Induced Demand: A Challenge on the Way of Iran Health Revolution Program, Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences (2016)
10. Socioeconomic Determinants of Food Insecurity in Iran: A Systematic Review, Journal of Asian and African Studies (2024)
11. Population Aging Management From the Perspective of the Health Field of Iran and Other Countries: A Scoping Review, Journal of Education and Health Promotion (2024)
12. Exploring Challenges of Health System in Iranian Traditional Medicine: A Qualitative Study, Ethiopian journal of health sciences (2020)
13. Critical Analysis of Corruption in Iran’S Health Care System and Its Control Strategies, Shiraz E Medical Journal (2022)
14. Barriers to Education in Cardiac Rehabilitation Within an Iranian Society: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Contemporary Nurse (2013)
15. Barriers in the Performance-Based Payment in Iran Health System: Challenges and Solutions, Journal of Education and Health Promotion (2021)
16. Descriptive Phenomenology Study of the Reasons for the Low Uptake of Free Health Service Package Among Type Ii Diabetic Patients, BMC Health Services Research (2022)
17. The Geographical Distribution of Hospital Beds in Iran in 2016 and the Estimation of 2026, Iranian Journal of Epidemiology (2018)
18. Diabetes Management Challenges in Iran: A Qualitative Content Analysis, Journal of Nursing Management (2019)
19. The Drug Prescription Patterns and Utilization After Family Physician Program Implementation in Rural Health Centers of Isfahan District, Iran, Journal of Isfahan Medical School (2014)
20. A Comparative Study of Laws and Procedures Pertaining to the Medical Records Retention in Selected Countries, Acta Informatica Medica (2012)
21. Breast Cancer Screening and Early Detection Programs in Iran: A Health Policy Analysis and Recommendations, World Medical and Health Policy (2024)
22. Iranian Nurses’ Status in Policymaking for Nursing in Health System: A Qualitative Content Analysis, Open Nursing Journal (2015)
23. New Financial Management System for Iran Public Health Sector: A Qualitative Study, Journal of Education and Health Promotion (2021)
24. The Pattern of Costs by the Health Insurance Organization for the People in Urban Areas With Population Under Twenty Thousands and Nomads in Isfahan Province, Iran, 2009-2013, Journal of Isfahan Medical School (2016)
25. Iran Quality of Care in Medicine Program (Iqcamp): Design and Outcomes, Archives of Iranian Medicine (2023)
26. Iran National Cancer Control Program (Irnccp): Goals, Strategies, and Programs, Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2022)
27. The Rate of Mental Disorders Case Finding After Implementing the Family Physician Program in Rural Areas of Isfahan Province, Iran, Journal of Isfahan Medical School (2017)
28. Designing a Health Equity Audit Model for Iran in 2010, Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (2011)
29. Policy Analysis of the Universal Public Health Insurance Program for Afghan Refugees in Iran: A Protocol Study, Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition (2025)
30. To What Extent Has the Iranian Health Transformation Plan Addressed Inequality in Healthcare Financing in Iran?, International Journal for Equity in Health (2023)
31. Availability and Nature of Cardiac Rehabilitation by Province in Iran: A 2018 Update of Iccpr's Global Audit, Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (2023)
32. Referral System Challenges of the Family Physician Program in Iran: A Systematic Review, Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2023)
33. Intrahospital Mortality Rate After the Implementation of the Second Phase of the Health Sector Reform in Comparison With Before That in Iran, International Journal of Preventive Medicine (2024)
34. Setting Research Priorities to Achieve Long-Term Health Targets in Iran, Journal of Global Health (2018)
35. Policy Analysis of Self-Care Program: A Qualitative Study Protocol, Health Research Policy and Systems (2025)
36. Allocation of Financial Resources to Primary Healthcare: A Scoping Review Protocol, International Journal of Preventive Medicine (2024)
37. Human Resources for Health: A Narrative Review of Adequacy and Distribution of Clinical and Nonclinical Human Resources in Hospitals of Iran, International Journal of Health Planning and Management (2018)
38. A Successful Implementation of an Idea to a Nationally Approved Plan: Analyzing Iran's National Health Roadmap Using the Kingdon Model of Policymaking, Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2018)
39. A Swot Analysis of the Development of Health Technology Assessment in Iran, PLoS ONE (2023)
40. Iran in Transition, The Lancet (2019)
41. Tracking Socio-Economic Inequalities in Healthcare Utilization in Iran: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis, BMC Public Health (2020)
42. Strategic Purchasing and the Performance of Health-Care Systems in Upper Middle Income Countries: A Comparative Study, Journal of Education and Health Promotion (2021)