Analysis of Policy Responses to COVID-19: A Qualitative Study in Northern Iran

Abstract

Background Preparation and financing of treatments, control of disease by limited resources, capacity building for the research and development related to the spread of disease, and measures to prevent and control the infection are known as the most important challenges encountered by the policy-makers involved in an epidemic outbreak. Therefore, the present study was conducted to analyze the policy responses of Babol University of Medical Sciences (BUMS) to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Methods For this purpose, a qualitative study was performed to investigate the policy responses of BUMS to COVID-19 in Babol (northern Iran) from the beginning of January to the end of March, 2021. The statistical population included the experts, pundits, policy-makers and planners involved in four areas of management, treatment, healthcare, and health donation. Data collection was done according to interviews and policy documents, and the obtained data were analyzed based on the Walt and Gilson’s policy triangle framework. Results Interviews and policy documents were determined after several stages of review according to the Walt and Gilson’s policy triangle framework, and the main themes were determined as: policy context, policy analysis, policy-making process, actors and stakeholders, and ways to deal with COVID-19 outbreak. Each theme was divided into 18 sub-themes. Finally, the related topics were extracted from the sub-themes. Conclusions Considering the large number of patients waiting for treatment, most of the decisions and policies were directed to their treatment, and the subject of prevention was at the second priority of policy making. Moreover, there was no practical program or policy for tracking the asymptomatic carriers in the community.