Table 1 List of policy-related documents identified
No | Year | Policy document | Explanation of the document |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1979 | Article 29 of the Constitution | Emphasis on universal health insurance coverage |
2 | 1980 | The Law on Regulation of Health Care expenditures | The obligation of the MOHME to carry out the necessary studies within two months for the correct and fair regulation of medical and health expenses and to implement the relevant regulations in a timely manner |
3 | 1984 | Primary healthcare (PHC) system | The establishment of a PHC system through the National Health Network was one of the major transitions in the Iranian health system to achieve equity of financing and utilization |
4 | 1994 | The Public Medical Service Insurance Coverage Act (PMSICA) | This law was the second most important reform that provides formal health insurance coverage to several target populations (e.g. civil servants, people with disabilities, village dwellers, and nomadic tribes) |
5 | 1995 | Executive Regulations of Article 7 of the Public Insurance Law | Organizations were allowed to enter into contracts with medical centers to ensure the health of their employees |
6 | 2000 | Article 192 of the Third Development Plan Law | Moving toward UHC by the establishment of a surveillance system and preparedness for rationing services and referral system implementation to provide all health services free by the government |
7 | 2002 | The law of organization of health and treatment | The obligation of Iran’s government to close the annual budget from the beginning of 2003 in such a way that the grounds for the implementation of the UHC are formed and empowering people through self-employed insurance |
8 | 2004 | Regulation for social insurance of villagers and nomads | Establishing an insurance fund and covering more than 300 thousand villagers |
9 | 2005 | Fourth Development Plan Law (Article 90) | For the first time, clear targeting was done on the issue of equitable (or fair) financing for health care. "Fairness in household financial contribution index (FFCI)" should be increased to 90%, people's share of health expenses should not increase from thirty percent 30%, and the number of impoverished households due to unaffordable health expenses should be reduced to 1% |
10 | 2006 | Communicating the general policies of "health" by the Supreme Leader of Iran (paragraphs 9 and 10) | Quantitative and qualitative development of health insurance and providing sustainable financial resources in the health sector |
11 | 2007 | Executive Regulations, Article 91 of the Fourth Development Plan | This article oversees the implementation of the family physician program in the country's health service delivery system |
12 | 2008 | Executive Regulations, Article 90 of the Fourth Development Plan | All government hospitals are obliged to provide all the supplies, equipment and medicine needed by the patients, and the patient is only responsible for the hospitalization deductible |
13 | 2010 | The Law of Targeting Subsidies | The implementation of this law has led to an increase in the costs of the health sector |
14 | 2011 | Article 38 of the Fifth Development Plan | The issue of reducing people's share of the health expenditures has been emphasized in a more complete way and with the same targeting of the fourth plan |
15 | 2012 | Family physician program | The urban family physician program was implemented in some parts of the country with extensive advertising and the full support of the Minister of Health |
16 | 2013 | Statute of Iran Health Insurance Organization | The first step was to implement Article 38 of the 5th National Development Plan and consolidate the country's insurance funds |
17 | 2014 | A collection of health transformation plan programs | This program aims to reduce out-of-pocket payments and increase the quality of hospital services at the level of Ministry of Health hospitals. Allocating appropriate credit from the government to this program is one of its key points |
18 | 2017 | Article 78 of the Sixth Development Plan | Reducing the percentage of households exposed to CHE through the extension and promotion of social health insurance to 1% and reducing OOP to 25% |