A partnership model to improve population health screening for noncommunicable conditions and their common risk factors, Qazvin, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Early findings and management of health conditions are among the key functions of health care systems. We developed a partnership framework to establish an extended primary health care-based selective screening service for the entire population of a small town as a key project of Qazvin Health Plan, Qazvin, Islamic Republic of Iran. Eight scientific associations and a diverse technical taskforce extensively reviewed evidence to adapt the grade A and B preventive recommendations of the American Preventive Service Taskforce. A list of 15 priority health conditions was identified and screening protocols were developed accordingly. Then strategies for working with private sector providers for better health care were applied to form our partnership model through which we ensured provision of screening services in 3 areas: service provision, quality and costs. Six private medical offices and a laboratory cooperated with the public health centre of the town to screen eligible residents. Preliminary analysis of the results suggests that the framework has successfully engaged private care providers.

A partnership model to improve population health screening for noncommunicable conditions and their common risk factors, Qazvin, Islamic Republic of Iran

Early findings and management of health conditions are among the key functions of health care systems. We developed a partnership framework to establish an extended primary health care-based selective screening service for the entire population of a small town as a key project of Qazvin Health Plan, Qazvin, Islamic Republic of Iran. Eight scientific associations and a diverse technical taskforce extensively reviewed evidence to adapt the grade A and B preventive recommendations of the American Preventive Service Taskforce. A list of 15 priority health conditions was identified and screening protocols were developed accordingly. Then strategies for working with private sector providers for better health care were applied to form our partnership model through which we ensured provision of screening services in 3 areas: service provision, quality and costs. Six private medical offices and a laboratory cooperated with the public health centre of the town to screen eligible residents. Preliminary analysis of the results suggests that the framework has successfully engaged private care providers

Le dépistage précoce des maladies est l'une des fonctions centrales des systèmes de soins de santé. La présente étude a mis au point un cadre afin d'établir un service de dépistage sélectif pour l'ensemble de la population d'une petite ville comme projet clé du Plan sanitaire de Qasvin. Les données locales et nationales ont été examinées en détail afin d'adapter les recommandations de prévention prioritaires des niveaux A et B du US Preventive Services Taskforce [Groupe de travail sur les services de prévention des Etats-Unis].Une liste de 15 affections chroniques, les tests de dépistage associés et leurs intervalles ont été établis en fonction. Par la suite, un ensemble de stratégies éprouvées visant à mieux collaborer avec les prestataires de soins privés a été utilisé pour concevoir un modèle de partenariat grâce auquel des services couverts par une assurance pour le dépistage, le suivi et de prise en charge des maladies seraient créés et financés. Six cabinets médicaux privés et un laboratoire ont coopéré avec le seul centre de santé publique de la ville pour sélectionner les résidents éligibles. L'analyse préliminaire des résultats laisse penser que le cadre a permis d'impliquer les prestataires de soins privés

Ways to improve the current performance of the boards of trustees of medical universities in iran.

BACKGROUND: Establishment of boards of trustees for all universities was legalized in 1988. It is crucial to assess the performance of the boards and to adjust them to the mandates raised by new visions of the country. METHODS: Subjects were members of boards of trustees and officers in charge of board's affairs at medical universities. Furthermore, a sample of 860 resolutions adopted by the boards was selected to assess the state of their enforcement. RESULTS: About 70% of the resolutions addressed have been enforced. There is a consensus on focusing on policy-making and high supervision on the objectives of the institutes rather than other areas. Furthermore, ways suggested improving the performance of the boards. CONCLUSION: Despite the rather high enforcement rate of the resolution in the past ten years, several interventions are suggested to improve the current performance of the boards of trustees and to meet new directions.

Health in the 5th 5-years Development Plan of Iran: Main Challenges, General Policies and Strategies.

Access to the right to the highest attainable level of health is a constitutional right that obliges governments and other players to take step to increase all individuals' chances of obtaining good health. At the least, health and education are two crucial requirements for this as well. Iran's vision 2025 is going to lead the country to a developed state with the highest rank of economic, scientific and technological status in the region. Enjoying health, welfare, food security, social security, equal opportunities, etc, are also considered as part of characteristics of Iranian society in 2025. Although health system of Iran has many achievements in providing health services specially for the poor following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, but the evidences gathered to develop the 5(th) 5-years economical, social and cultural plan (5(th)5YDP:2011-2015), listed a variety of main challenges in stewardship, financing, resources generation and service provision functions of the existing health system. Thus, to overcome the main challenges, about 11% of general policies of 5(th)5YDP are directly address health related issues with emphasizing on healthy human and comprehensive health approach with considering: Integration of policy making, planning, evaluation, supervision and public financing; Developing both quantity and quality of health insurance system and reducing out-of-pocket expenditures for health services to 30% by the end of the 5th plan. The strategies of 5(th)5YDP adopted by the parliament as an Act will change the health system fundamentally through tuning the main drivers; so, its implementation needs brave leaders, capable managers, motivated technical staff and social mobilization.

Health observatories in iran.

BACKGROUND: The Islamic Republic of Iran, in her 20 year vision by the year 2025, is a developed country with the first economic, scientific and technological status in the region, with revolutionary and Islamic identity, inspiring Islamic world, as well as effective and constructive interaction in international relations. Enjoying health, welfare, food security, social security, equal opportunities, fair income distribution, strong family structure; to be away from poverty, corruption, and discrimination; and benefiting desirable living environment are also considered out of characteristics of Iranian society in that year. Strategic leadership towards perceived vision in each setting requires restrictive, complete and timely information. According to constitution of National Institute for Health Researches, law of the Fifth Development Plan of the country and characteristics of health policy making, necessity of designing a Health Observatory System (HOS) was felt. Some Principles for designing such system were formulated by taking following steps: reviewing experience in other countries, having local history of the HOS in mind, superior documents, analysis of current production and management of health information, taking the possibilities to run a HOS into account. Based on these principles, the protocol of HOS was outlined in 3 different stages of opinion poll of informed experts responsible for production on management of information, by using questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions. The protocol includes executive regulations, the list of health indicators, vocabulary and a calendar for periodic studies of the community health situation.

What to do to promote mental health of the society.

BACKGROUND: According to the last existing documents, the prevalence rate of mental disorders is about 20% which is considered to be 14% of all country's burden of disease. In the fifth economical, social, and cultural development plan of the country in accordance with the 20 year vision, "healthy human being" and "comprehensive health" approaches and also improving of mental health indicators are emphasized. Aim of study was preparing national policy and interventions for promoting mental health. METHODS: Using secondary data, analytical review of country's mental health programs, recommendations of WHO, descriptive situation of mental health and its trend during the last decade were drafted and a group of experts and stakeholders was formed following a sound stakeholder's analysis. After three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), main points of the meetings, influencing factors of present situation, and oncoming strategies were agreed upon. RESULTS: Based on different studies and the experts' opinions, the prevalence of mental disorders in the last decade has increased. Coverage of mental health programs in two last decades in the best could be equal to rural population. Urban areas have been deprived of these services. Analysis of mental health system of the country shows that internal environment is weak and the external one is concede to be in threat. Eight principal challenges in country's mental health are considered. CONCLUSION: Improving current situation requires increasing internal capacity of mental health system and developing inter-sectoral cooperation. During next five years, the Ministry of Health, Iran should mainly focus on improving mental health services particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, promoting mental health literacy of different groups and minimizing mental health risk factors.