Reproductive Health Policy Reforms in Iran and Infertility Programs

Iran’s health system has undergone several reproductive health policy reforms in the past six decades with many challenges and successes. The first programs that created in this section were the Family Planning Program in 1958 and establishment maternity wards in 1965. The most important reform was the establishment of the National Health Network in 1983, which aimed to reduce inequities and expand coverage and access to reproductive health care in deprived areas and following this, most reproductive healthindicators, such as MMR and NMR, have improved. Infertility is a part of reproductive health, but until recently it has not been addressed in the health system of Iran.Currently, changing fertility policies has caused that Infertility is the priority of the agenda in health reform plan. Nevertheless, the presence of some challenges could have a negative effect on the reform in future most planning is not evidence-based, heavy financial burden on government for free IVF and inefficient payment in treatment, neglect of preventive education and screening in couple, scarce financial sources, unequal distribution of specialists and infertility clinic. Overall, these reforms should include sustainable and purposeful changes to improve efficiency, equity, and effectiveness. Moreover, public policies strategies, educational strategies and social supportive care, must be designed to prevent infertility and support for infertile couples. A comprehensive plan for infertility is needed to avoid different or even opposing reforms thathave little benefit, high costs, and are beyond the control of the government.

کلیدواژه ها:

Reproductive Health ، Infertility ، Policy