Iran’s Health System Transformation Plan: A SWOT analysis

Authors

  • Ahad Bakhtiari Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Alireza Olyaeemanesh National Institute for Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Mariano Martini Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
  • Masoud Behzadifar Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Meysam Behzadifar Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran & Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
  • Nasrin Mousavinejhad Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
  • Nicola Luigi Bragazzi Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Section of History of Medicine and Ethics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
  • Samad Azari Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Sanaz Heydarvand Bahrami Pediatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:

Background: Societies are characterized by evolving health needs, which become more challenging throughout time, to which health system should respond. As such, a constant monitoring and a periodic review and reformation of healthcare systems are of fundamental importance to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services delivery, equity, and sustainable funding. The establishment of President Rouhani’s government in Iran, on May 5, 2014, the settlement of the new Ministry of Health and Medical Education administration (MoHME) and the need for change in the provision of healthcare services has led to the “Health System Transformation Plan” (HSTP). The aim of the current investigation was to critically evaluate the health transformation plan in Iran.    Methods: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis enables to identify and assess the strengths and weaknesses within an organization or program, as well as the threats and opportunities outside the given organization or program. To identify SWOT of the HSTP in Iran, all articles concerning this program published in scholarly databases as well as in the gray literature were systematically searched. Subsequently, all factors identified at the first round were thematically classified into four categories and for reaching consensus on this classification, the list of points and factors was sent to 40 experts – policy- and decision-makers, professors and academicians, health department workers, health activists, journalists.    Results: Thirty-four subjects expressed comments on classification. Incorporating their suggestions, the SWOT analysis of Iran’s HSTP was revised, finalized and then performed.    Conclusion: HSTP in Iran, like many of the initiatives that have been recently introduced and not fully implemented, have various challenges, difficulties and pitfalls that health policymakers need to pay attention to. Interacting with criticisms, taking into account public opinion and strengthening the plan can make the project more effective, and it can be anticipated that in the future, better conditions in the health sector will be achieved.  

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Journal title

volume 32  issue 1

pages  224- 230

publication date 2018-02

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