Medical Science
Volume 24, Issue 102, March - April, 2020
Challenges and strategies for improving the rural family physician program in Iran
Ahmad Shirjang1, Soad Mahfoozpour1,2♦, Iravan Masoudi Asl3, Leila Doshmangir4,5
1Department of Health Services Management, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2Safety Promotion & Injury Prevention Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4Health Services Management Department, Health Services Management Research Center, Iranian Center of Excellence in Health
Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
5Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of
Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
♦Corresponding author
Department of Health Services Management, South Tehran Branch,
Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran /
Safety Promotion & Injury Prevention Research Center,
Shahid Beheshti University of medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
ABSTRACT
Background: Family physician is a corrective action for completing PHC and an important development in providing health services
in Iran which by its implementation, it is emphasized on the need to reform, supplement and expand the program. In this study, we
seek to identify the key challenges of the rural family physician to provide practical solutions to solve them. Materials and Methods:
This is a qualitative study conducted with a review of documents and interviews. Documents were systematically selected documents
and key informants have been selected with Non-probability methods. 26 In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data
were analyzed using Maxqda software by deductive content method. Results: The results show that for the full implementation of
the rural family physician there are still essential challenges in the area of governance such as the lack of mandatory rules for
specialized levels for Observe the ranking; in the area of financing such as lack of impact of physician activity on wages; in the area
of education such as the inconsistency of the content of medical education with the family physician, in the area of service providers
such as reluctance of family physicians to care plans; in the area of service recipients such as self-referral without a doctor's opinion:
and in the area of evaluation such as insufficient supervision of insurer organizations. Conclusion: Given the national and
international emphasis on PHC continuity and providing family physician-centered services, comprehensive and systematic planning
of remedial actions should be undertaken to address existing challenges.
Keywords: : Family Physician, PHC, Health Care
Medical Science, 2020, 24(102), 647-657
