Country case studies on primary health care: Islamic Republic of Iran

The case of the Islamic Republic of Iran's health system reforms following the Declaration of Alma-Ata in 1979 underscores the pivotal role of primary health care (PHC) in improving health outcomes, particularly in maternal and child health. This report aims to analyze the evolution and impact of Iran's PHC system, with a focus on the development of community health worker (CHW) programs, notably the Behvarz initiative, and the subsequent establishment of health networks. Organized into sections detailing the phases of health network development, training and supervision of CHWs, and the system's impact, the report highlights Iran's success in reducing maternal, infant, and neonatal mortality rates while improving overall life expectancy. The key problem addressed is the need for equitable and efficient healthcare delivery, especially in rural areas, with Iran's experience offering valuable lessons for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) globally.