Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Public‑private partnership in Iranian hospitals: Challenges and opportunities

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Ghazaal Etemadi
. Reza Rezayatmand
. Nasrin Shaarbafchizadeh

Health Management and Economics Research Center, School of Management and Medical Information, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nowadays, various strategies are applied by governments to control costs and 
finance hospitals and the health sector. Public‑private partnership (PPP) option is one of these 
strategies. Considering the growing importance of hospitals in different communities and their 
problems, this study aimed to identify PPP challenges, opportunities and solutions in hospitals. This 
study aimed to identify the challenges and opportunities of PPP in the country’s hospitals and then 
offered an appropriate solution to overcome these challenges.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a qualitative study and content analysis approach is 
undertaken. The participants were selected through purposive sampling and data were collected using 
a semi‑structured interview with experts in the public and private health sector until the saturation 
point achieved. Data analysis was performed through the thematic analysis of expert’s statements 
using MAXQDA. 10 software in this sector.
RESULTS: According to the study results, 3 main themes (challenges, opportunities, and solutions), 
10 sub‑themes, and 32 codes were identified in relation to the public and private partnership. 4 
sub‑themes on challenges of PPP, 3 sub‑themes on partnership opportunities and 3 sub‑themes 
on challenges solutions were identified.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that given the discussed challenges the most 
important challenge seems to be not evaluated outsourcings, incorrect usage of participatory models, 
and inadequate and inappropriate postoutsourcing supervision, however, it appears evaluated 
outsourcing backed with adequate supervision could solve many current hospitals’ problems.

Keywords

Challenges
hospital
opportunities
public‑private partnership
solutions
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 12, Issue 4
April 2022
Pages 1-9

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