Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40148921›Full record

ArticleArchives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique2025

Navigating barriers to health technology assessment development in Iran: a qualitative exploration of stakeholder perspectives.

Meysam Behzadifar, Saeed Shahabi, Ahad Bakhtiari, Samad Azari, Mohammad Yarahmadi, Aidin Aryankhesal, Banafsheh Darvishi Teli, Masoud Behzadifar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Meysam BehzadifarSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Saeed ShahabiHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Ahad BakhtiariHealth Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.
Samad AzariHospital Management Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad YarahmadiDepartment of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Aidin AryankhesalSchool of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
Banafsheh Darvishi TeliHealth Management and Economics Research Center, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Masoud BehzadifarSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. masoudbehzadifar@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealth Technology Assessment (HTA) plays a crucial role in informing healthcare policy and decision-making, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Iran. Despite its potential, the development of HTA in Iran faces significant barriers due to political, financial, technical, and social challenges. This study aims to explore stakeholder perspectives on the barriers hindering HTA development in Iran and to identify strategies for overcoming these obstacles.

methodsThis qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to collect data from 18 stakeholders involved in the healthcare sector in Iran, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and experts in health economics and policy. Thematic analysis was applied to identify key barriers and overarching themes related to HTA development.

resultsSeven overarching themes emerged: [1] lack of a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework [2], financial constraints and limited funding [3], shortage of trained professionals and organizational resistance [4], low public and professional awareness [5], weak technical infrastructure and data systems [6], poor inter-organizational collaboration, and [7] political interference in health decision-making. These barriers hinder the effective integration of HTA into Iran's healthcare system. Despite these barriers, participants suggested actionable recommendations, including strengthening governance structures, increasing financial investment, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and improving technical capacity.

conclusionThis study highlights the unique misalignment between HTA priorities and national health policies in Iran, barriers less frequently reported in other LMICs. Addressing these barriers through targeted policy reforms, investment in human resources, and enhanced collaboration could facilitate HTA development and improve healthcare decision-making in Iran.

Indexed as

DevelopmentHealthcare decision-makingHealth policyHealth technology assessmentIran

Identifiers

PMID40148921
PMCPMC11948822

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.