Strategic Purchasing in Health System of Iran: A Review Study

Considering spiraling costs of management and delivery of health services, using principles of health economics is inevitable. World Health Organization in a report in 2000 emphasized on the use of strategic purchasing as a main strategy for achieving objectives of health system. Therefore, investigating strategic purchasing in context of health system in Iran to understand implementation possibility seems to be necessary. Having this in mind, researchers outlined infrastructures of implementation of strategic purchasing in Iran. Strategic purchasing and regionalization in health system, universal health coverage which is a main objective for health systems, reform plan of health system, family physician plan and reforms in health system were analyzed with an orientation to strategic purchasing and applicable recommendations were offered. Considering high costs of health services delivery and infinite needs of people, using strategic purchasing is a mandatory approach. In this regard, infrastructures like health information management, comprehensive and up-to-date electronic health records should be developed by planners.