Integration of Medical Education and Research in Healthcare System in Iran; A Qualitative Study on the Positive Consequences of the Formation of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education

The integration of medical education in healthcare system with the law establishing the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 1985 is one of the important issues in the history of medical developments in Iran. The purpose of this study is to discover and analyze the consequences of this law and the establishment of the ministry.

In this qualitative study, 13 policymakers, legislators, and medical education researchers in Iran were selected to participate through semi-structured interviews. The data obtained were analyzed using conventional content analysis method.

Despite the problems of the integration, this system had positive achievements during about 4 decades. The three main categories built in the research are: human resource development, growth and promotion of the quality of services, and promotion of medical knowledge.

The formation of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education under the law in 1985 had positive achievements for the ministry and the social system. Moreover, paying attention to the weaknesses and challenges of the Integration is one of the important necessities for correcting the mentioned obstacles and limitations.