Developing basic health services packages: Defining a prioritization of effectiveness criteria

Background: Basic health services package (BHSP) is one of the key strategies for improving the effectiveness of health systems and equitable distribution of resources. Required factors to services included in the BHSP are based on some criteria that must be agreed on them. It is generally agreed that there is a little consent about the issue that what services can be provided with the aforementioned package. Aim: This study investigated the prioritization of effective criteria in developing BHSP for Iranian society. Methods: In this mixed-method study, senior managers and experts in the related fields were purposively selected. The sample sizes were considered 25 and 27 in the qualitative and quantitative study, respectively. Data was collected using structured and semi-structured questionnaire; moreover, personal deep interview and self- administered questionnaire were also used. To analyze, content analysis and SPSS software were finally implemented. Findings: In total, 54 criteria were categorized into 8 main groups of health priority including service delivery system, people demands, cost-effectiveness, utilization, financial resources, service social acceptability, commitments, and sovereignty. 'Burden of disease', 'Vulnerable target groups', and 'community needs' had the greatest impact in determining BHSP in Iran, accordingly. Conclusion: To design evidence-based BHSP in Iran; it is recommended that some of the criteria such as Burden of disease, vulnerable target groups, and community needs should be replaced.