A review on methods and applications of foresight in health policy: international practices and national considerations

Increasing evidence highlights the significance of foresight for those who are involved in the healthcare system. Lack of prospective approaches squanders countries' income and increases the chance of emergence of predicaments. Futures Studies in health by systematically studying, researching and examining the future, identifying key factors and the internal and external environment of the system and relying on the understanding of future capacities, helps in decision making.

In this paper, the authors extracted the most common approaches in foresight of health and also interviewed with Iranian experts of the field. By presenting international and domestic practices of health foresight, we compared different foresight techniques and summerized their strengths and weaknesses. Providing inclusive perception of which techniques to use and under which circumstances it is appropriate to apply foresight methods.

This paper gives a better understanding of foresight methods and how prospective approaches can be beneficial in healthcare. Therefore, decision makers and healthcare professionals can develop a preventive approach instead of a reactive approach by enhancing exploratory and strategic dimension in health policies. Undoubtedly, the position of health and the way of providing relevant services in the world of the future and even in the next decade is very different from the picture of today.