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Aalipour A, Behzadifar M. Editorial. yafte 2026; 28 (1) :1-11
URL: http://yafte.lums.ac.ir/article-1-3929-en.html
URL: http://yafte.lums.ac.ir/article-1-3929-en.html
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
Abstract: (57 Views)
Health policy-making has become increasingly complex due to the multifaceted structure of health systems, the diversity of actors involved, and persistent resource constraints. The effectiveness of this process depends heavily on stakeholder participation, as each group contributes unique operational knowledge and insights that are essential for designing realistic and feasible policies. In Iran, evidence from recent years shows that policies developed with limited or no stakeholder engagement often encounter professional resistance, implementation challenges, and costly revisions. This paper examines the consequences of insufficient engagement, including limited realism, heightened conflicts of interest, weak intersectoral coordination, and unintended outcomes, and argues that centralized, top‑down approaches are no longer adequate for addressing the evolving needs of the Iranian health system. In contrast, inclusive stakeholder participation significantly enhances policy quality by improving analytical comprehensiveness, realism in policy design, feasibility of implementation, and transparency throughout the process. Such engagement fosters public trust, strengthens accountability, promotes collective learning, and generates a sense of ownership among actors, ultimately increasing the sustainability and acceptance of policies. Given the current demands of Iran’s health system, this paper underscores the need to institutionalize structured mechanisms for engagement. The core policy message is clear: without meaningful and systematic stakeholder participation, health policy-making risks inefficiency and may produce outcomes that further complicate reform efforts.
Keywords: Health policy, Stakeholder participation, Policy implementation, Public trust, Health governance, Iran
Type of Study: Original Research |
Received: 2026/05/10 | Accepted: 2026/04/30 | Published: 2026/04/30
Received: 2026/05/10 | Accepted: 2026/04/30 | Published: 2026/04/30
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