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Stakeholders analysis of merging social health insurance funds in Iran: what kind of interests they may gain or lose?
Author(s) -
Bazyar Mohammad,
Rashidian Arash,
Sakha Minoo Alipouri,
Doshmangir Leila,
Rahimi Nouroddin,
Ranjbar Mohammad,
Sagha Abolfazl Seyyedeh Fatemeh,
Tabatabaei Lotfi Seyed Moussa,
Olyaeemanesh Alireza
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the international journal of health planning and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1099-1751
pISSN - 0749-6753
DOI - 10.1002/hpm.2605
Subject(s) - business , social determinants of health , key person insurance , social insurance , public relations , insurance policy , actuarial science , health care , economic growth , economics , political science , market economy
Summary Iran passed a Law in 2010 to merge all existing health insurance funds physically together. This stakeholder analysis aimed at revealing that what benefits the stakeholders might lose or gain as a result of merging health insurance schemes in Iran, which make them to oppose or support it. This was a qualitative study conducted in 2014. Sixty semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews were conducted. Purposive and snowball samplings with maximum heterogeneity samples were used for selecting interviewees. Government is not willing to undertake more financial commitment. Existing health insurance schemes like Social Security Organization and minor well‐resourced health insurance funds and also worker unions are unwilling to lose their financial and organizational autonomy, to share their benefits with other less privileged groups, or face likely financial challenges in running their health facilities like hospitals. Top managers and workforces are worried to lose their job, salary, or organizational positions. Ministry of Cooperation, Labour, and Social Welfare does not want to lose its control on health insurance schemes. Ministry of Health and Medical Education and Iran Health Insurance Organization are among actors that support the insurance funds merging policy. Successful implementing of consolidation requires taking into account the interests of different stakeholders.