TY - JOUR
T1 - Role of nongovernmental organizations in Iran's health system
T2 - What do they do and what can they do?
AU - Rajabi, Mohanna
AU - Ebrahimi, Parvin
AU - Aryankhesal, Aidin
N1 - Funding Information:
“A part of NGOs’ works is the financial support of patients
Funding Information:
of Medical Sciences (grant No: IR.IUMS.REC.1397.1330).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/3/23
Y1 - 2022/3/23
N2 - BACKGROUND: Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as entities out of the health sector can play various roles and functions at different levels of the health systems. The present study was conducted to investigate NGOs' potential and actual functions in Iran's health system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This exploratory study was carried out in two parts from April 2020 to December 2020 in Tehran, Iran. For the first part, the statute of 65 NGOs was used for document review, and in the second part, the required data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 26 key informants from the governmental sector and NGOs. Data were analyzed using the framework analysis method and MAXQDA software. RESULTS: According to data analysis, the results of this study were classified into two sections of NGOs' current functions and expected functions in Iran's health system. The current functions of NGOs in Iran's health system include service delivery, educational, research, and information activities, financing, supportive and facilitation activities, and advocacy. Other functions in which NGOs could play a role include health system management, education, and service providing and support activities. CONCLUSION: In this study, the various roles of NGOs in Iran's health system were explained. NGOs can act actively as the consulting and executive hand alongside the public sector in the lowest to the highest levels of Iran's health system. Hence, health sector managers and policymakers must facilitate NGOs' involvement in the health sector and use their capacities and capabilities to improve health and increase public access to health-care services.
AB - BACKGROUND: Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as entities out of the health sector can play various roles and functions at different levels of the health systems. The present study was conducted to investigate NGOs' potential and actual functions in Iran's health system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This exploratory study was carried out in two parts from April 2020 to December 2020 in Tehran, Iran. For the first part, the statute of 65 NGOs was used for document review, and in the second part, the required data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 26 key informants from the governmental sector and NGOs. Data were analyzed using the framework analysis method and MAXQDA software. RESULTS: According to data analysis, the results of this study were classified into two sections of NGOs' current functions and expected functions in Iran's health system. The current functions of NGOs in Iran's health system include service delivery, educational, research, and information activities, financing, supportive and facilitation activities, and advocacy. Other functions in which NGOs could play a role include health system management, education, and service providing and support activities. CONCLUSION: In this study, the various roles of NGOs in Iran's health system were explained. NGOs can act actively as the consulting and executive hand alongside the public sector in the lowest to the highest levels of Iran's health system. Hence, health sector managers and policymakers must facilitate NGOs' involvement in the health sector and use their capacities and capabilities to improve health and increase public access to health-care services.
KW - Health policy
KW - health promotion
KW - health services
KW - health-care sector
KW - nongovernmental organization
KW - public health
KW - public-private partnership
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128383135&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4103/jehp.jehp_584_21
DO - 10.4103/jehp.jehp_584_21
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85128383135
VL - 11
JO - Journal of Education and Health Promotion
JF - Journal of Education and Health Promotion
SN - 2277-9531
IS - 1
M1 - 101
ER -