Work

Out-of-pocket and informal payments in Iran's health care system: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Year: 2017

Type: review

Abstract: ↑What is "already known" in this topic: About 55% of the health system's resources are supplied by families' out-of-pocket payment.The average out-of-pocket expenditures for health is 24% in the world, however, this percentage reaches up to 50% in low-income countries.Studies have indicated an increase in informal payments worldwide, especially in countries with low and average incomes. →What this article adds:The amount of out-of-pocket payments was 50% in total.The amount of informal payments was around 35%. Cash payments were the most common type of informal payments.Appreciating the efforts of hospital staff, physicians, and clerks' requests were the main factors in informal payments.Hospitalization period, marital and employment status, income level, and insurance coverage could be mentioned among the main influential factors in informal payments across different studies.

Source: Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran

DOI: 10.14196/mjiri.31.70

Authors: Seyed Abbas Mirabedini, Seyed Mohammad Esmaeil Fazl Hashemi, Ali Sarabi Asiabar, Aziz Rezapour, Saber Azami-Aghdash, Hassan Hosseini Amnab

Institutions: Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Systems and Reforms

Subfield: Finance

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, No poverty, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W2768064600