The challenges of strategic purchasing of healthcare services in Iran Health Insurance Organization: a qualitative study
Background: Strategic purchasing in healthcare services is a key component in improving health system performance, and it has been one of the most important issues in health system reform around the world, especially Europe in the last decade. Iran health system and insurance, although sometimes c...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Electronic Physician
2018-02-01
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Series: | Electronic Physician |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5878022/ |
Summary: | Background: Strategic purchasing in healthcare services is a key component in improving health system
performance, and it has been one of the most important issues in health system reform around the world,
especially Europe in the last decade. Iran health system and insurance, although sometimes considered the issue
of strategic purchasing goals, has not been made possible to achieve or even to implement, due to the associated
problems.
Objective: To determine the associated problems of strategic purchasing in the Iran Health Insurance
Organization (IHIO).
Methods: This study is a qualitative study, and framework analysis which was conducted in Iran in 2014-15. The
participants in this study were 34 individuals from decision-makers and executives in the IHIO purchasing
process, and university experts who have been chosen purposefully. This study conducted frame analysis, by
using MAXQDA 10.
Results: The findings included associated problems of IHIO strategic purchasing in 12 themes and 65 subthemes.
The themes included: Laws and regulations for purchasing, Organization of purchasing, Qualified and authorized
providers, Right type of services, Right type of contracts, Target groups for purchasing, Resources allocation,
financing and pricing system, Purchasing as improving performance and quality, Purchasing as shaping the
market and competition, Purchasing as health progress state of people and society, Guided purchasing and
stewardship of government, Structure of decision-making process in the health and welfare ministries.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed associated problems in IHIO strategic purchasing. To achieve
strategic purchasing goals in Iran, identification of all issues and factors of the total insurers and health system
sets which affect strategic purchasing is essential. |
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ISSN: | 2008-5842 2008-5842 |