Family Medicine in Iran: Facing the Health System Challenges

Abstract

Background:In response to the current fragmented context of health systems, it is essential to support the revitalization of primary health care in order to provide a stronger sense of direction and integrity. Around the world, family medicine recognized as a core discipline for strengthening primary health care setting.Objective:This study aimed to understand the perspectives of policy makers and decision makers of Iran’s health system about the implementation of family medicine in Iran urban areas.Materials/Patients and Methods:This study is a qualitative study with framework analysis. Purposive semi-structured interviews were conducted with Policy and decision makers in the five main organizations of Iran health care system. The codes were extracted using inductive and deductive methods.Results:According to 27 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Policy and decision makers, three main themes and 8 subthemes extracted, including: The development of referral system, better access to health care and the management of chronic diseases.Conclusion:Family medicine is a viable means for a series of crucial reforms in the face of the current challenges of health system. Implementation of family medicine can strengthen the PHC model in Iran urban areas. Attempting to create a general consensus among various stakeholders is essential for effective implementation of the project.

Acceptability of the Urban Family Medicine Project among Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study of Medical Offices, Iran

“…Informational and cultural factors had a negative effect on the acceptability of the Family Medicine Project characteristics. This finding was in line with those of other studies (Esmaeili et al, 2015;Weldon et al, 2014). For example, physicians encountered cultural challenges to providing health care services in the US health care environment.…”

Integrative literature review: access to primary healthcare services

“…Esmaeili R et al (27) (2015) Glob J Health Sci Iran Understand the perspectives of Iran's political decisionmakers and health system on the implementation of family medicine in urban areas of the country.…”

“…After reviewing the literature, the access to health care in international scenarios was analyzed, in terms of ensuring or not the access to PHC by specific populations (10)(11)(12)(13)(14) ; some studies show the access through health plans (15)(16)(17)(18)(19) ; or address possibilities or proposals to improve the access to services either through restructuring (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)29) or strategies implemented for this purpose (7,(20)(21)(22)28,30) .…”

“…Decision makers believe this project implementation will promote people's access to appointments and that health care will be evenly provided across all urban areas, especially in remote areas. The results indicated that Iranian policymakers and health care organizations consider family medicine as a viable way to promote a number of crucial reforms in the country's health system (27) .…”

Health-related quality of life and disease burden of psoriasis in Iran

“…The autonomy and financing of the hospitals and other health care institutions including family medicine is an important policy issue nowadays. (Doshmangir et al, 2015, Esmaeili et al, 2014 …”