TY - JOUR T1 - Freedom and equity in Iranian health system: a qualitative study TT - جایگاه آزادی و عدالت در نظام سلامت ایران: یک مطالعه کیفی JF - payeshj JO - payeshj VL - 16 IS - 6 UR - http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-73-en.html Y1 - 2017 SP - 747 EP - 757 KW - freedom of choice KW - choice right KW - equity KW - health system KW - access N2 - Objective (s): People are the major recipients of health services, they deserve their selves to have the choice right and equitable access to healthcare services. Health system is responsible for providing the fair services and choice right to the public. Hence, this study aims to explore the current position of freedom and equity in providing the healthcare services. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted through literature and national documents review and face to face interview with key experts of the health system. All interviews are recorded and transcribed. MAX QDA10 was applied for organizing the concepts. Framework analysis was used for analyzing the concepts. Results: Findings were categorized in two main themes of freedom of choice (with 3 categories including freedom of choice for treatment services, freedom of choice for preventive and hygienic services and freedom of choice for choosing the insurer) and equity(with 2 categories including equity in financial access and equity in physical access). Equity in physical access includes two sub categories: equity in access to preventive and hygiene services and equity in access to specialty and subspecialty services. Conclusion: The freedom of choice and equity are considered in different ways in the health system however, there is a significant gap with the ideal position. It seems that the commitment of health system managers to national documents and learning from the experiences of other countries is essential for proper implementation of freedom of choice and equity at different levels of the health system. M3 ER -