Keywords
Abstract
Background: The history of the primary healthcare system in Iran portrays a journey of strategic development and implementation that has resulted in significant advancements in healthcare access and overall population well-being. Starting in the early 1980s, Iran embarked on a comprehensive approach to health care delivery prioritizing universal access, equity, and community participation.
Introduction: The foundation of this system was established during the Alma-Ata Conference in 1978, which placed a strong emphasis on the role of primary health care in attaining health for all.
Iran's unwavering commitment to this approach led to the creation of an extensive network of rural and urban health centers designed to offer essential health services and preventive care to all citizens.
Discussion: Over the years, the expansion of Iran's primary healthcare system has yielded noteworthy accomplishments. Maternal and child mortality rates have seen substantial declines, attributed to improved access to maternal care and immunization services.
The effectiveness of the system in reaching diverse populations has been enhanced through community engagement and the integration of traditional medicine. Furthermore, Iran's focus on health education and disease prevention has resulted in heightened public awareness and the adoption of healthier lifestyles. Despite these achievements, challenges continue to persist. Disparities in the quality and accessibility of services between urban and rural areas remain a concern. Moreover, the ongoing necessity for infrastructure development, training of the health workforce, and efficient resource allocation underscore the continuous efforts required to strengthen the primary healthcare system.
Conclusion: The history of Iran's primary health care system is marked by progress and achievements, underscored by an unwavering commitment to providing comprehensive, community-based care. Iran's journey serves as an exemplary model, highlighting the positive impact of prioritizing primary health care in achieving better health outcomes for its population. As Iran continues to evolve its health system, addressing challenges and building upon successes, the history of its primary health care system serves as a valuable lesson in the pursuit of accessible and equitable health care for all.
References
Gharaee H, Azami Aghdash S, Farahbakhsh M, Karamouz M, Nosratnejad S, Tabrizi JS. Public-private partnership in primary health care: an experience from Iran. Prim Health Care Res Dev. 2023;24:e5. doi: 10.1017/S1463423622000561.
Shahabi S, Kiekens C, Etemadi M, Mojgani P, Teymourlouei AA, Lankarani KB. Integrating rehabilitation services into primary health care: policy options for Iran. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022;22(1):1317. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08695-8.
Bagheri Z, Dehdari T, Lotfizadeh M. The Preparedness of Primary Health Care Network in terms of Emergency Risk Communication: A Study in Iran. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2022;16(4):1466-75. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2021.70. Epub 2021 Jun 9.
Khatri R, Endalamaw A, Erku D, Wolka E, Nigatu F, Zewdie A, et al. Continuity and care coordination of primary health care: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023;23(1):750. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09718-8.
Carneiro Chagas MA, Dos Santos AM, Neves de Jesus N. Nursing care for the transgender population in primary health care: an integrative review. Invest Educ Enferm. 2023;41(1):e07. doi: 10.17533/udea.iee.v41n1e07.
Hanson K, Balabanova D, Brikci N, Erlangga D, Powell-Jackson T. Financing primary health care in low- and middle-income countries: A research and policy agenda. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2023;28(1):1-3. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01546-X.
Baker R. Improving life expectancy with primary health care. J Prim Health Care. 2023;15(2):104-5. doi: 10.1071/HC23058.
Alves RFS, Boccolini CS, Baroni LR, Boccolini PMM. Primary health care coverage in Brazil: a dataset from 1998 to 2020. BMC Res Notes. 2023;16(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s13104-023-06323-0.
Botes M, Cooke R, Bruce J. Experiences of primary health care practitioners dealing with emergencies - 'We are on our own'. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2023;15(1):e1-e9. doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3553.
Alzghaibi H, Alharbi AH, Mughal YH, Alwheeb MH, Alhlayl AS. Assessing primary health care readiness for large-scale electronic health record system implementation: Project team perspective. Health Informatics J. 2023;29(1):14604582231152790. doi: 10.1177/14604582231152790.
Amihanda R, Odhus CO. Rural health: strengthening primary health care in Kisumu County, Kenya. Rural Remote Health. 2023;23(1):8160. doi: 10.22605/RRH8160. Epub 2023 Jan 10.
Govender I. The role of family medicine and primary health care and its impact on the climate crisis. S Afr Fam Pract 2023;65(1):e1-e2. doi: 10.4102/safp.v65i1.5658.
Freijser L, Annear P, Tenneti N, Gilbert K, Chukwujekwu O, Hazarika I, et al. The role of hospitals in strengthening primary health care in the Western Pacific. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2023;33:100698. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100698.
Mei K, Kou R, Bi Y, Liu Y, Huang J, Li W. A study of primary health care service efficiency and its spatial correlation in China. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023;23(1):247. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09197-x.
Galanakos SP, Bablekos GD, Tzavara C, Karakousis ND, Sigalos E. Primary Health Care: Our Experience From an Urban Primary Health Care Center in Greece. Cureus. 2023;15(2):e35241. doi: 10.7759/cureus.35241. eCollection 2023 Feb.
Rezapour R, Dorosti AA, Farahbakhsh M, Azami-Aghdash S, Iranzad I. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on primary health care utilization: an experience from Iran. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022(1):404. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-07753-5.
Doshmangir L, Behzadifar M, Shahverdi A, Martini M, Ehsanzadeh SJ, Azari S, et al. Analysis and evolution of health policies in Iran through policy triangle framework during the last thirty years: a systematic review of the historical period from 1994 to 2021. J Prev Med Hyg. 2023;64(1):E107-E17. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2023.64.1.2878.
Moshiri E, Rashidian A, Arab M, Khosravi A. Using an Analytical Framework to Explain the Formation of Primary Health Care in Rural Iran in the 1980s. Arch Iran Med. 2016;19(1):16-22.
Bakhtiari A, Takian A, Ostovar A, Behzadifar M, Mohamadi E, Ramezani M. Developing an organizational capacity assessment tool and capacity-building package for the National Center for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in Iran. PLoS One. 2023;18(6):e0287743. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287743. eCollection 2023.
Martini M, Angheben A, Riccardi N, Orsini D. Fifty years after the eradication of Malaria in Italy. The long pathway toward this great goal and the current health risks of imported malaria. Pathog Glob Health. 2021;115(4):215-23. doi.org/10.1080/20477724. 2021.1894394
Canetti D, Riccardi N, Martini M, Villa S, Di Biagio A, Codecasa L, et al. HIV and tuberculosis: The paradox of dual illnesses and the challenges of their fighting in the history. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2020;122:101921. doi 10.1016/j. tube.2020.101921.
Martini M, Besozzi G, Barberis I. The never-ending story of the fight against tuberculosis: from Koch's bacillus to global control programs. J Prev Med Hyg. 2018;59(3):E241-E7. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2018.59.3.1051.
Martini M, Gazzaniga V, Behzadifar M, Bragazzi NL, Barberis I. The history of tuberculosis: the social role of sanatoria for the treatment of tuberculosis in Italy between the end of the 19th century and the middle of the 20th. J Prev Med Hyg. 2018;59(4):E323-E7. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2018.59.4.1103