Progress Toward the Implementation of General Health Policies in Iran

BACKGROUND: Monitoring and evaluation are crucial in ensuring the effective implementation of health priorities. This descriptive study examined the progress towards implementing Iran's General Health Policies (IGHP) to illustrate how countries can effectively monitor and evaluate their national plans. Additionally, the study sought to identify factors that impede the full implementation of these policies. METHODS: Available data sources, formal reports, and studies were examined to gather data on selected indicators. Then, documentary analysis and 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify measures taken to materialize IGHP and factors that hindered the full implementation of IGHP. Data were analyzed using the content analysis method. RESULTS: The results showed that several indicators improved during these years, while there was no data for some indicators. There are some barriers to implementing the IGHP, including lack of full understanding of the policies, absence of necessary mechanisms and infrastructures, lack of coherency and alignment of national health plans and policies, absence of monitoring and evaluation framework, and lack of transparency and accountability in the health system. As countries continue to develop their health plans and policies, lack of clarity regarding the progress of these plans remains a concern. CONCLUSION: Countries need to strengthen their health planning systems and expedite the implementation of accountability mechanisms within the health system. Enhancing capacity building is essential to establish a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework. By fortifying these systems, countries will be better equipped to measure and track progress toward achieving their health objectives.