Table 4 Prioritizing sub-strategies by experts

Structural reforms

Reprioritization of the health budget within the government budget

Precedence of prevention over treatment in health budgetary allocation

Budget flexibility in special circumstances

Budget prioritization for health based on changes in epidemiology and disease burden

Modeling and forecasting the growth trend of health costs and financial strategies

Increasing the share of insurance (private and public) and prepaid financial resources in health system financing

Establishing R&D centers and applied research in the field of health system financing

Development of zero-based budgeting

Budgetary allocation based on achievements in the treatment sector

Allocating a certain percentage of the country’s GDP to the health sector

Establishment and development of an operational budgeting approach (based on performance) in the health system

Allocating part of the budget to encourage achievements related to health

Increase in Efficiency of Health Expenditures

Evaluating the optimal use of available resources and reducing waste of resources

Development of universal health coverage plans

Increasing skill development (or skill enhancement) of healthcare workers

Evaluating the efficiency of budgetary allocation in the health sector

Supply and demand management in the health sector and supply chain improvement and strategic purchase of drugs and equipment

Prevention of corruption, rent, and conflict of interest in health governance

Development of public health education, self-care, and the level of literacy and health capabilities of society

Modifying the payment mechanism to health service providers

Use of decision support systems and evidence-based policy development

Multi-layered financing of the health system to allocate public resources to vulnerable groups

Development of resistance economy approach in the health system

Integrating basic social insurance funds

Outsourcing services with an emphasis on systematic monitoring

Strengthening the monitoring of the performance of service delivery units

Identifying and reducing induced demand in providing health care based on clinical guidelines

Identifying and reducing the moral risks of the insured in the health system

Separation of the roles of supervision, provision of care, and monitor the health system

Health Sector-Specific Grants and Foreign Aid

Use of foreign aid

Foreign borrowing

Foreign aid through technology transfer

Conducive Macroeconomic Conditions

Development of the country’s taxation system

Planning to reduce sanctions and the economic effects it caused

Increasing the government budget balance

Reducing economic dependence on oil exports and underground resources

Control and management of the health sector inflation

Increase in Health Sector-Specific Resources

Establishing and increasing earmarked taxes for the health sector

Encouraging private investment in the health sector

Attracting the participation of non-governmental organizations and philanthropists in the health sector

Allocation of resources from the targeting of subsidies to the health sector

Modifying and increasing tariffs and insurance premiums

Withdrawal from financial funds and strategic reserves of the country in times of health crisis

Development of joint healthcare plans and investments with other government agencies

donation-based crowdfunding and voluntary participation of people

Encouraging foreign investment in health

Using the capacity of the capital market for macro healthcare project financing

Tax exemptions for economic activists in the health sector during the crisis

Allocating a share of public service payments to the health sector