Strengthen of Stewardship of Rehabilitation Services in Iran: A Policy Brief

The strong and effective stewardship of rehabilitation services is mentioned as one of the critical elements for the success of efforts to improve access to rehabilitation services. Existing evidence indicates that fragmented and unclear multiple governance and leadership structures are a major barrier to equitable access to rehabilitation services in Iran. The lack of coordination and integration of rehabilitation services across different institutions has led to services being provided in a fragmented manner based on internal organizational policies. This study was conducted in four stages: a scoping review, analysis of documents, interviews, and collective brainstorming. Policy solutions were identified in six broad areas: health vision and strategies for achieving better health, influencing other sectors and advocating for better health, aligning the governance of the health system with prevailing values, methods for ensuring the design of the health system in line with health system goals, current legal and regulatory tools, and methods for collecting, disseminating, and applying information. From a governance perspective, establishing governance structures and centralizing the management of rehabilitation services is essential. Weak governance structures and the lack of coordination among responsible institutions are among the main problems in this area. Therefore, designing a system that clarifies the key roles of different stakeholders and allows for accountability and effective interaction is considered necessary. Ensuring the provision of comprehensive rehabilitation services requires aligning these services with various dimensions of the health system, including human resource quality, sustainable financing, appropriate distribution of services, and increased access to rehabilitation services. In this regard, it is recommended to revise educational policies to train a skilled and responsive workforce that meets the community’s needs. Furthermore, sustainable financing through an efficient insurance system and investment in this area is of particular importance. Finally, enhancing legal and regulatory tools, along with the government’s commitment to enforcing laws and strengthening supervisory infrastructure, is essential for achieving an effective rehabilitation system. Strengthening political commitment and investment in this sector will not only increase productivity but also help reduce health system costs. Overall, adopting a comprehensive and coordinated approach across all relevant sectors can pave the way for achieving better health outcomes through rehabilitation services.