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ToolsBehzadifar, Meysam, Shahabi, Saeed, Bakhtiari, Ahad, Azari, Samad, Yarahmadi, Mohammad, Aryankhesal, Aidin, Darvishi Teli, Banafsheh and Behzadifar, Masoud (2025) Navigating barriers to health technology assessment development in Iran: A qualitative exploration of stakeholder perspectives. Archives of Public Health, 83. ISSN 0778-7367
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Abstract
Background: Health Technology Assessment (HTA) plays a crucial role in informing healthcare policy and decision-making, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Iran. Despite its potential, the development of HTA in Iran faces significant barriers due to political, financial, technical, and social challenges. This study aims to explore stakeholder perspectives on the barriers hindering HTA development in Iran and to identify strategies for overcoming these obstacles. Methods: This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to collect data from 18 stakeholders involved in the healthcare sector in Iran, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and experts in health economics and policy. Thematic analysis was applied to identify key barriers and overarching themes related to HTA development. Results: Seven overarching themes emerged: [1] lack of a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework [2], financial constraints and limited funding [3], shortage of trained professionals and organizational resistance [4], low public and professional awareness [5], weak technical infrastructure and data systems [6], poor inter-organizational collaboration, and [7] political interference in health decision-making. These barriers hinder the effective integration of HTA into Iran’s healthcare system. Despite these barriers, participants suggested actionable recommendations, including strengthening governance structures, increasing financial investment, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and improving technical capacity. Conclusion: This study highlights the unique misalignment between HTA priorities and national health policies in Iran, barriers less frequently reported in other LMICs. Addressing these barriers through targeted policy reforms, investment in human resources, and enhanced collaboration could facilitate HTA development and improve healthcare decision-making in Iran.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Data availability: The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Funding: This study was done with the support of the National Institute for Medical Research Development (NO: 4021378). |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | development,health policy,health technology assessment,healthcare decision-making,iran,public health, environmental and occupational health,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2739 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 14 May 2025 15:30 |
| Last Modified: | 19 May 2025 00:17 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99269 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s13690-025-01566-8 |
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