The Strengths and Weaknesses of Urban Family Physician Program during 2012-2016 from the Viewpoint of Policymakers, Administrators and Services Recipients in Shiraz: A Qualitative Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Health Care Management, School of Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.

2 Shiraz University of medical sciences

3 Lorestan university of medical sciences

4 Department of Health Care Management, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Iran

5 Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, Health Human Resources Research Center, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: The "family physician" program is one of the plans which aimed at expanding the coverage of insurance, overcoming the barriers to the health system of the country, and solving the public health problems in Iran. This study was conducted to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the urban family physician program from the viewpoint of policymakers, administrators, and recipients of services in the city of Shiraz during 2012-2016, using corrective strategies.
Methods: This is a qualitative study, and the data were collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. A total of six focus group discussion sessions and 40 interviews were conducted, and the target sampling was done.
Results: A total of 9 basic concepts and 46 sub-concepts were identified to explain the strengths and weaknesses of the family physician program. The main concepts included: 1- Culture-making and community preparation, 2- Structure and deployment facilities of the program, 3- Manpower training, 4. Service coverage, concept 5. Resources (financial, human, and equipment), 6. Stewardship and monitoring of the program, 7. Insurance system, tariffs, and compensation of services, 8. Clarity of the guidelines and regulations, and 9. Satisfaction with the implementation of the plan.
Conclusion: According to the results of the study, educational planning for public culture-making through the media and newspapers, proportion of the number of people covered by each doctor, aggregation of insurance, and legal requirements for specialists to cooperate effectively are recommended to improve the program.

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