Health Care Financing for the Victims of Traffic Accidents in Iran; Challenges and Solutions

Traffic accidents are the first cause of death in Iran and due to its necessity in the fourth and fifth Socio-Economic Development plan, two laws (articles No. 92 and 37) were passed to provide immediate and free service to traffic victims. The current study was designed to explore the challenges and complexities related to health care financing for this victims and to provide solutions. In this applied research, the qualitative phenomenological approach was used. All interviews were conducted in 2013 by semi-structured questions with 36 people including the managers at the Ministry of Health, Medical Sciences Universities, trauma specialized hospitals and basic insurances. Sampling was done using snowball, targeted and quota techniques. Data analysis was done using framework method and through Atlas Ti 5.2 software. As a result of qualitative analysis, 3 main themes, 14 codes and 4 sub- codes were identified. The main challenges of health care financing for victims of traffic accidents included challenges of financial integration, accumulation, distribution of financial resources and service purchasing. Creating a process to collect more appropriate resources for article No. 92 at the Ministry of Health, compiling a services package and applying strong monitoring to improve the quality of services were found as mechanisms that can be used to obtain sustainable financing and quality in providing services to victims of traffic accidents.