Background: Iranian health system underwent a series of reforms entitled Health Transformation Plan (HTP) in 2014. The plan started with packages that have imposed financial burden and increased expenditure in the health system. This study aimed to identify strategies and solutions to reduce expenditures in HTP in Iran. Methods: To conduct this qualitative study, the researchers held 15 semi-structured interviews with prominent experts in the research arena in 2018. Content analysis was used to analyze the data using MAXQDA 10 software. Results: Data collection yielded 9 main topics, including purchase and provision medicine, prescription, purchase and use of equipment, diagnostic medical services, referral system, human resources, physical space, payment system, and modifying and increasing base salaries. Conclusion: In Iran’s health system, some aspects of HTP wasted resources, eg, the waste of resources in the service delivery system; thus, policymakers should consider proper strategies to control the costs based on the nature of their implementation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the status of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences regarding international standards of in-service training and Staff Qualifications and Education (SQE). This is an applied, descriptive-analytical, and cross-sectional study; it is performed by two questionnaires of "SQE standards" and "measurable standards of SQE" in 10 hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan University of Medical Science. Validity of the questionnaire "SQE standards" was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha 0.87 and the questionnaire "measurable standards of SQE" 0.88. Analysis was done using the software SPSS v.18 and Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney tests and Error bar chart. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed and 209 questionnaires were collected (response rate = 69.6%). The highest average score of SQE standards was related to Tohid Hospital (148.8) and the lowest score to Sina hospital (137.5). The mean scores were close to each other (137.5 to 148.8), but standard deviation of scores had great differences that the highest standard deviation (SD) was in Besaat Hospital (30.7). Functionality of SQE standards in hospitals under study was confirmed (57.5% to 94%) and current status in the hospitals under study for different areas was assessed as above average (79.6%).