Background: Iran's Primary Healthcare (PHC) system has been a successful model in promoting public health for nearly five decades. The fundamental principles of this system are reflected in the UK's community-based health guidelines, which emphasizes the promotion of primary care and community health. This study aimed to compare UK strategies with Iran's experience to leverage global insights for improving Iran's PHC system.
Methods: Using a narrative-comparative review design, this research compared the UK's community-based health guidelines with Iran's primary healthcare network. The comparative framework was based on the six core components of England's community-based NHS, with Iranian evidence aligned to these components. Data included national documents, laws and programs from the Ministry of Health, reports from the Network Management Center, and Persian scientific articles focusing on the structure, function, and challenges of Iran's PHC.
Results: Analysis based on the six key NHS components revealed that many UK strategies are inherently integrated into Iran's PHC system. However, addressing executive deficiencies, strengthening governance, and reforming health system management in Iran are essential prerequisites for enhancing the system's effectiveness and achieving universal health coverage. Following two decades of implementing the Family Physician program, a review and innovation in the efficiency of Iran's PHC is now more critical than ever.
Conclusion: This analysis provides an opportunity for dialogue and policy reform for more effective action. Leveraging international experiences, especially the new UK strategies, can pave the way for reforming and improving Iran's primary healthcare system.