Challenges of Outsourcing in Hospitals Affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Suggested Solutions

The available reports indicate that outsourcing strategy was not successful in hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The present study aimed to identify the reasons behind the failure of this strategy and also to provide solution to overcome the challenges.  The present study was a phenomenological qualitative study conducted in 10 hospitals with outsourcing units affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected through 32 semi-structured interviews with key informants and were analyzed using content analysis approach and through MAXQDA11 software. In this study, 4 main codes (reasons related to hospital, private sector, finance& expenses and human resource) and 18 sub-codes were identified for challenges of outsourcing in hospitals. Also, 3 main cods (preparation, implementation, control and monitoring) and 11 sub-codes were identified for the improvement of the outsourcing strategy. The Ministry of Health, as the main custodian of public health, should improve its capacities to increase the efficiency of private sector and consider a specific place for private-public partnership strategies, in its future policies. This requires clarifying concepts, revising job descriptions, and clarifying the roles of different individuals in the process of outsourcing.   Key words: Outsourcing, Challenges, Solution, Hospitals, Tehran University of Medical Sciences   Citation: Ahmadizadeh E, Tajvar M, Ahmadi A, Ahmadi B. Challenges of Outsourcing in Hospitals Affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Suggested Solutions. Journal of Health Based Research 2018; 4(1): 77-93.