national health guidelines in i.r of iran, an innovative approach for developing countries

1. cancer research center, shahid beheshti university of medical sciences, tehran, iran 2. health sector policy coordination group, in charge of minister for policy making affairs bureau, ministry of health and medical education, tehran, iran 3. ncd research center, endocrine and metabolism research institute, tehran university of medical sciences and health services, tehran, iran 4. health service standardization and guidelines development, ministry of health and medical education, tehran, iran 5. health policy secretariat, ministry of health and medical education, tehran, iran           corresponding author: gohar mohammadi, ms.c ph.d candidate in cancer research tel: (+98) 21 22748001 email: [email protected] received: 22 june 2014 accepted: 03 feb. 2015  iran j cancer prev. 2015; 2:77-83     abstract background: guidelines have produced and used in complex environment of health care system with its ethical, economical, legal and other aspects; that should be taken into account in any country. modifying the format and content of guidelines might facilitate their usage and lead to improved quality of care and cost containment. we have produced this tool for explained above purpose. methods: a coordinating national team has settled at the office of minster of health and medical education, supported by a guideline review committee. an innovative and appropriate approach for adapting national health guidelines has consisted of eight steps, have defined for preparing the draft of each guideline a technical  team which, including main author, her/his co-workers have nominated. the authors of each topic have systematically searched databases of the proposed twenty-two international sites, and then have selected at least five sources of them that were more relevant. the final recommendations have proposed by agreement of technical team and guideline review committee. results: in less than 5 months, more than 500 authors in whole country have selected to prepare guidelines and, approximately 150 guidelines have provided in three volumes of the published and distributed book. each guideline had a national id number, constant forever; all topics should be reviewed every 3-5 years. conclusion: national health guideline(s) would be essential means for policy making in health system and increased the cost containment and quality of care. ministry of health and medical education should provide and distribute the guidelines based on its accountability to legal responsibility.