A Model for the Development of Public-private Partnerships in the Iranian Health System Using a Meta-Synthesis Approach

Background and Objectives: Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are among the interesting topics for scholars, policymakers and managers in various fields, including health. The purpose of this study is to design a model for the development of PPP in the health system of Iran. Methods: This is a qualitative study using a Meta-Synthesis approach. The data were collected by reviewing articles related to the literature which were searched in valid national and international databases. Then, using the opinions of a panel of experts, the qualitative findings extracted from the articles were synthesized to finally discover new concepts. Results: Out of 217 articles extracted, 27 final articles were selected and 66 initial codes were extracted. According to experts, the final results include 3 main dimensions and 12 Components: public sector with Components (organizational and institutional, Administrative and social, legal and regulatory, structural and contextual), private sector with Components (economic and financial, Banking and inflation, technical and specialized, Technology and equipment, legal and contractual) and the charity sector with Components (acceptability and effectiveness, awareness and confidence building, communication and interaction). Conclusion: The present study provides a new model and perspective on how to develop PPP in the health system of Iran. Based on this model, the managers of public, private and charity sectors can improve the health system of the country by using the huge economic, social and cultural capacities of society.