Explaining the resources wastage and its underlying factors in COVID-19 management in Iran: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Identifying factors affecting health costs can be useful in determining the best policies for controlling and managing health costs. To this end, the present study aimed to analyze resource wastage and identify factors underlying it in COVID-19 management in the Iranian health sector. Method: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted in the Iranian health sector. The participants were 23 senior, middle, and operational managers in the health sector. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the managers. The participants were selected using purposive, quota, and snowball sampling techniques. The interviews continued until the data were saturated. The collected data were analyzed using MAXQDA software (version 10). Results: Following the data analysis, the factors affecting the wastage of health resources were divided into 4 categories and 9 subcategories. Vaccines, diagnostic kits, medicines, and human resources were the main factors underlying resource wastage. The identified subcategories were open and unused vials, nonuse of distributed vaccines and their expiration, excess supply and decreased demand for vaccines, expiration of diagnostic and laboratory kits and their quantitative and qualitative defects, the large number of tests, non-organization of medical staff, and the inefficiency and expiration of medicines. Conclusion: Given the limited health funds and the increased healthcare costs, effective preparation and planning and making reasonable decisions for unexpected events can minimize unnecessary costs and resource wastage, which requires some revisions in attitudes toward COVID-19 management in the healthcare sector.