Providing solutions to strengthen primary health care transformation plan: A qualitative study in Kurdistan, Iran

Due to the importance of the health transformation plan in delivery of the effective health services and the efficient response to the health needs of population, present study aimed to identify solutions in order to strengthen the health transformation plan and resolve its existing challenges.

This was a qualitative study conducted through two focus group discussions.  A purposeful sample of 18 managers and health executives of Kurdistan health system participated in the study. Data analysis was done using MAXQDA version 12 and was based on the content analysis method.

Four themes and eighteen sub-themes emerged from analysis. The topics included education and information, modification of service packages, reforms in the physical structure, human resources and financial resources of the project and changes in policy and governance perspectives. In this regard, informing the society about the importance of the health transformation plan, especially from preventive outlooks, gaining the support of other institutions affecting health, the effective implementation of family physician plan and the referral system, developing a monitoring and evaluation system, modification of the software and electronic structures of the program, amendments in the payment system, more support given to the health sector from the Ministry of Health, and promoting inter, intra relationships in the health sector were suggested in this study.

In order to overcome existing challenges in the path of health transformation plan, it is necessary to adopt strategies focusing on strengthening the health transformation plan from the health promotional and preventive dimensions, allocate stable income of the government to health plans, monitor and evaluate health services continuously.