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BMC Health Services Research
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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Challenges and executive requirements of advanced health system governance based on general health policies in Iran: qualitative research

Authors: Masoud Aboulhallaj, Seyed Masood Mousavi, Mehdi Jafari, Abbas Vosoogh-Moghaddam, Sajjad Bahariniya, Shabnam Ghasemyani, Sedighe Sadat Tabatabaei Far

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Objective

The optimal management of the health system depends on its functions. The functional issues of Iran’s health system are organized in a scattered manner and it has many challenges, especially in the field of stewardship. In order to achieve sustainable health-oriented development, bold and smart policy reforms in the main components of the health system are essential. The purpose of this study was to identify challenges and institutional-operational requirements in order to promote stewardship based on the general health policies of the country.

Methods

This study was conducted qualitatively with a framework analysis approach on policy makers and health experts. Purposive sampling was done with maximum diversity. To achieve a comprehensive view, snowball sampling was completed, resulting in the participation of 47 individuals in this study. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. The analysis was done in MAXQDA software.

Results

Challenges and requirements for the implementation of General Health Policy tasks in promoting the function of stewardship, according to the World Health Organization model, in 3 fields of vital evidence production and policymaking (4 main topics and 20 sub-topics), internal governance (6 main topics and 23 subtopics) and Inter-Sectoral Leadership (2 main topics and 6 subtopics) were categorized. The most important challenges in the field of stewardship included fragmentation, the lack of an integrated information system and coherent and coordinated evidence production institutions, and weakness in the supervisory dimension due to the fatness of the structure, conflict of interests, and lack of transparency in responsibilities.

Conclusion

It seems that the creation of comprehensive governance structures in the form of a network in active interaction with the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Health and Food Safety, the development of the information system, the coordination of vital evidence production institutions, capacity building to strengthen intra-sectoral governance and inter-sectoral leadership and create a suitable platform be effective for public participation.
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Metadata
Title
Challenges and executive requirements of advanced health system governance based on general health policies in Iran: qualitative research
Authors
Masoud Aboulhallaj
Seyed Masood Mousavi
Mehdi Jafari
Abbas Vosoogh-Moghaddam
Sajjad Bahariniya
Shabnam Ghasemyani
Sedighe Sadat Tabatabaei Far
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11887-z

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