The People’s Right To Choose their Healthcare Services: View Point of Health Managers

People, as the main recipients of healthcare services, consider themselves entitled to the right to choose in the health system. This study aimed to investigate people’s right to choose and freedom about healthcare services from healthcare managers’ perspective.

This qualitative study was conducted in 2020. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 healthcare managers. Then, the snowball sampling method continued until data saturation level was achieved. All interviews were recorded, analyzed, and the main themes were extracted. MAXQDA10 was used for data analysis using content analysis method.

The people’s rights to choose their healthcare services were categorized into five main themes: people’s awareness of their right to choose, freedom of choice regarding receiving or not receiving services, government guidelines and policies, choice of hygienic services and medical services in a special way, and barriers to free access to services.

Recently, more attention is paid to social values in health systems than in the past, and people have more freedom and choices. On the other hand, to strengthen social justice foundations, there is a need for comprehensive policies and planning in various aspects.