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Exploring Current Iran’s Primary Healthcare System: Challenges and Solutions


 Background: Since 1980s, establishing Primary Healthcare (PHC) network in Iran to promote health care delivery and population’s health, the PHC system has experienced various achievements and changes. This study aimed to explore current PHC in Iran focusing on challenges and solutions.Methods: Documentary review and interviews were used to collect qualitative data. The interviews were conducted with 26 stakeholders in various levels of the health system including health policymakers, academics, health managers and staffs are expert in public health and the PHC. National upstream documents including the Five Year Development Plans, General Health Policies, and the Iran’s 20 year national vision were reviewed. Data analysis was done using deductive content analysis assisted by MAXQDA 12 software. Results: Although Iranian PHC has enjoyed significant successes, it does not match with the changing populations’ health needs especially during the last years. The current workforce cannot respond to new public health challenges, health data are not collected and analyzed in a consistent manner, modern appropriate technologies in the PHC are not used and electronic service delivery are not provided yet. PHC financial difficulties and the current rigid structure of the health system cannot satisfy the new emerging needs of the population.Conclusion: Given the challenges and the new health needs, the current PHC structure and services should use the private sector involvement for better respond to the public health needs and flexible structure and services while dealing with the changes. The workforce needs to be updated, and the referral system should be established for providing the health care services based on FP plan.