Showing 2 results for Sustainable Health Financing
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Rahim Khodayari, Mehdi Abbasi, Fereshte Karimi,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (9-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The health financing system is the process of collecting, pooling and managing financial resources to purchase health services. Sustainable financing of the Iranian health system is crucial for achieving universal health coverage. The purpose of this study was to identify strategies for sustainable financing of the Iranian health system.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using the scoping review in 2020. The following databases and search engines were searched systematically between 21.03.2002 and 21.09.2020 to find studies related to sustainable financing strategies for the Iranian health system: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase, Magiran, Iranmedex and SID databases, and two search engines; i.e., "Google" and "Google scholar”. Finally, 47 studies were selected and analyzed using the MAXQDA software and the framework analysis method.
Results: A total of 40 strategies were identified for strengthening the sustainability of Iran's health financing system, which were grouped into three categories: collecting funds, pooling funds and purchasing health services. The most frequently cited strategies for sustainable financing of the Iranian health system were the following: increasing the health share of gross domestics product, expanding tax revenues, pre-payment methods of health financing, strengthening public-private partnership, increasing the efficiency of the health system, reducing health system costs, consolidating insurance funds, eliminating insurance overlaps, value-based health service tariffs, optimizing health services support packages, and fixed payment methods based on the performance of the health service providers.
Conclusion: The Iran's health financing system must be strengthened in such a way as to make it possible to collect, pool and manage sufficient financial resources to be used to purchase health services for the people to ultimately ensure universal health coverage leading to the promotion of the public’s health.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Mahya Abbasi, Mahdi Abbasi, Mahdieh Heidari,
Volume 20, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Health system financing is the process of collecting, pooling, and allocating financial resources to maintain, restore or promote the health of the people. Developing countries face many challenges in mobilizing, managing and allocating health financial resources. The aim of this study was to identify sustainable financing methods in developing countries.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using the scoping review. All the studies related to health system financing methods in developing countries were searched in the English electronic databases (i.e., Pubmed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of science), Persian electronic databases (i.e., Magiran, Iranmedex, and SID) and Google Scholar and Google search engines using appropriate keywords. Finally, 94 suitable documents were selected and analyzed using the framework analysis method and MAXQDA software.
Results: Forty-two methods were identified to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of the health financing system in developing countries; these methods were grouped into three categories: collection and management of financial resources, pooling of financial resources and purchasing of health services. The most frequently used solutions to strengthen the sustainability of the health financing system in developing countries were as follows: expanding social health insurance plans, integrating multiple health insurance plans, strengthening public-private partnerships, establishing a robust referral system, imposing taxes on harmful commodities, using perspective fixed payment methods, defining needs-based health service packages, promoting donors’ contributions, and reforming health service tariffs.
Conclusion: The health financing system in developing countries should be strengthened. The financial reforms of the health system should be accompanied by reforms in providing health services to make possible efficient and effective results. Health policymakers and senior managers should strengthen the governance of the health financing system at the macro level. In addition, healthcare managers should increase the efficiency and reduce resource wastage by strengthening budget capacity and financial management at the micro level.
