Ética en investigación: Nuevos desafíos, ¿viejos dilemas? / Research Ethics: New challenges, old dilemmas?

Memoria de las ponencias del 1er Congreso de Ética en Investigación, realizado en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires en septiembre de 2022, y organizado por el Comité Central de Ética en Investigación del Ministerio de Salud de esta ciudad. Los dos ejes del Congreso fueron: Desafíos éticos en la investigación durante la pandemia y post-pandemia; y Aporte de las nuevas tecnologías para los procesos de investigación. Se presentan las ponencias del congreso, organizadas en los capítulos: El trabajo de los Comités de Ética en Investigación durante la pandemia; El rol de las comunidades en la investigación; Aporte de las nuevas tecnologías para los procesos de investigación; y Desafíos modernos para la investigación en salud.

Dissemination of public health research to prevent non-communicable diseases: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Dissemination is a critical element of the knowledge translation pathway, and a necessary step to ensure research evidence is adopted and implemented by key end users in order to improve health outcomes. However, evidence-based guidance to inform dissemination activities in research is limited. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe the scientific literature examining strategies to disseminate public health evidence related to the prevention of non-communicable diseases. METHODS: Medline, PsycInfo and EBSCO Search Ultimate were searched in May 2021 for studies published between January 2000 and the search date that reported on the dissemination of evidence to end users of public health evidence, within the context of the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Studies were synthesised according to the four components of Brownson and colleagues' Model for Dissemination of Research (source, message, channel and audience), as well as by study design. RESULTS: Of the 107 included studies, only 14% (n = 15) directly tested dissemination strategies using experimental designs. The remainder primarily reported on dissemination preferences of different populations, or outcomes such as awareness, knowledge and intentions to adopt following evidence dissemination. Evidence related to diet, physical activity and/or obesity prevention was the most disseminated topic. Researchers were the source of disseminated evidence in over half the studies, and study findings/knowledge summaries were more frequently disseminated as the message compared to guidelines or an evidence-based program/intervention. A broad range of dissemination channels were utilised, although peer-reviewed publications/conferences and presentations/workshops predominated. Practitioners were the most commonly reported target audience. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant gap in the peer reviewed literature, with few experimental studies published that analyse and evaluate the effect of different sources, messages and target audiences on the determinants of uptake of public health evidence for prevention. Such studies are important as they can help inform and improve the effectiveness of current and future dissemination practices in public health contexts.

Implementation costs of telephone nurse triage service.

Telephone nurse triage services are becoming increasingly common in healthcare systems worldwide. Florianópolis (Santa Catarina State, Brazil) is the first municipality in the country to provide this service in its public health system. This study adopted a quantitative, descriptive, and analytical methodology to evaluate the impact of this program on overall costs of the public health system. The research examined all 33,869 calls received by the telephone triage service from March 16 to October 31 in 2020, and calculated the program costs during the period. Avoided cost were calculated by the difference between estimated consultation costs considering patient-stated first alternative and the program recommendation after triage. Analyzing only the costs for the municipality of Florianópolis, the program's costs exceeded avoided costs by almost BRL 2.5 million during the period. By expanding the analysis to include costs of emergency department consultation - not administered by the municipality - based on data from previous research, we found that the program spares BRL 34.59 per call, a 21% cost reduction for the health system. Considering the preliminary results of the study and its limitations, it is understood that the service of telephone nurse triage can reduce costs in the healthcare system.

Partnering to implement the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer in the Americas: prioritizing systems strengthening

[ABSTRACT]. Working with PAHO/WHO to prioritize childhood cancer in the context of systems strengthening is central to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH)’s role as WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer. This manuscript focuses on how SJCRH and PAHO/WHO have partnered to apply C5 (Country Collaboration for Childhood Cancer Control) to define and implement priority actions regionally, strengthening Ministry pro- grams for childhood cancer, while implementing the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer since 2018. Using C5, a tool developed by SJCRH, PAHO/WHO and SJCRH co-hosted regional/national workshops engaging authorities, clinicians and other stakeholders across 10 countries to map health systems needs and prioritize strategic activities (spanning Central America, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Brazil and Uruguay). SJCRH pro- vided English/Spanish/Portuguese C5 versions/templates for analysis/prioritization exercises, and worked with PAHO/WHO and country teams to implement C5, analyze findings, and develop outputs. In an eight-country regional workshop, countries defined priorities within national/regional initiatives and ranked their value and political will, incorporating country-specific surveys and stakeholder dialogues. Each country prioritized one strategic activity for 2022-2023, exchanged insights via storytelling, and disseminated and applied results to inform country-specific and regional action plans. National workshops analyses have been incorporated into cancer control planning activities and collaborative work regionally. Implementation success factors include engaging actors beyond the clinic, enabling flexibility, and focusing on co-design with stakeholders. Joint implementation of C5 catalyzed prioritization and accelerated strategic activities to improve policies, capacity, and quality of care for children in the Americas, supporting Ministries to integrate childhood cancer interven- tions as part of systems strengthening.

[RESUMEN]. La colaboración con la OPS/OMS para priorizar el cáncer infantil en el contexto del fortalecimiento de los sistemas es fundamental para la labor del St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) como centro colab- orador de la OMS contra el cáncer infantil. Este artículo se centra en la alianza entre el SJCRH y la OPS/OMS en la aplicación de la herramienta C5 (colaboración nacional para el control del cáncer infantil) para definir y ejecutar medidas prioritarias a nivel regional, fortalecer los programas contra el cáncer infantil del ministerio y poner en marcha la Iniciativa Mundial contra el Cáncer Infantil desde el 2018. Con C5, una herramienta elab- orada por el SJCRH, la OPS/OMS y este hospital organizaron conjuntamente talleres regionales y nacionales con autoridades, personal médico y otras partes interesadas en diez países para determinar cuáles son las necesidades de los sistemas de salud y priorizar las actividades estratégicas (en América Central, República Dominicana, Haití, Brasil y Uruguay). El SJCRH proporcionó versiones y plantillas de C5 en inglés, español y portugués para actividades de análisis y priorización y trabajó con la OPS/OMS y los equipos de país para ejecutar la herramienta C5, analizar los resultados y elaborar productos. En un taller regional de ocho países, se definieron las prioridades en las iniciativas regionales y nacionales, se clasificó su valor y la voluntad política y se incorporaron encuestas específicas para cada país y diálogos con las partes interesadas. Cada país priorizó una actividad estratégica para el período 2022-2023, intercambió ideas por medio de narrativas, y difundió y aplicó los resultados para fundamentar planes de acción tanto regionales como específicos para el país. Los análisis de los talleres nacionales se han incorporado a las actividades de planificación del control del cáncer y al trabajo colaborativo a nivel regional. Entre los factores de éxito de la ejecución se encuentra involucrar a los agentes más allá de lo clínico, permitir que haya flexibilidad y centrarse en un diseño elab- orado en colaboración con las partes interesadas. La ejecución conjunta de la herramienta C5 catalizó la priorización y aceleró las actividades estratégicas para mejorar las políticas, la capacidad y la calidad de la atención infantil en la Región de las Américas y brindó apoyo a los ministerios para integrar las intervenciones contra el cáncer infantil en el fortalecimiento de los sistemas.

[RESUMO]. A colaboração com a OPAS/OMS para priorizar o câncer infantil no contexto do fortalecimento dos sistemas é fundamental para o papel do St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) como Centro Colaborador da OMS para o Câncer Infantil. Este artigo mostra como o SJCRH e a OPAS/OMS se associaram para apli- car a ferramenta C5 (Colaboração Nacional para Controle do Câncer Infantil), com o propósito de definir e implementar ações prioritárias regionalmente, fortalecendo programas ministeriais para o câncer na infân- cia, durante a implementação da Iniciativa Global para o Câncer Infantil desde 2018. Com auxílio da C5, uma ferramenta desenvolvida pelo SJCRH, a OPAS/OMS e o SJCRH organizaram conjuntamente oficinas regionais/nacionais com a participação de autoridades, profissionais de saúde e outras partes interessadas em 10 países, com a finalidade de mapear as necessidades dos sistemas de saúde e priorizar atividades estratégicas (abrangendo América Central, República Dominicana, Haiti, Brasil e Uruguai). O SJCRH for- neceu versões/modelos da C5 em inglês, espanhol e português para exercícios de análise/priorização e colaborou com a OPAS/OMS e as equipes dos países para implementar a C5, analisar resultados e desen- volver produtos. Em uma oficina regional com oito países, foram definidas as prioridades das iniciativas nacionais/regionais e classificados seu valor e vontade política, incorporando levantamentos nacionais e diálogos entre as partes interessadas. Cada país priorizou uma atividade estratégica para 2022-2023, trocou conhecimentos por meio da narração de histórias e disseminou e aplicou os resultados para informar pla- nos de ação nacionais e regionais. As análises das oficinas nacionais foram incorporadas às atividades de planejamento para controle do câncer e ao trabalho conjunto no âmbito regional. Entre os fatores de êxito da implementação estão o engajamento de agentes de fora do segmento da saúde, a oferta de flexibilidade e a ênfase no planejamento conjunto com as partes interessadas. A implementação conjunta da C5 catalisou a priorização e acelerou atividades estratégicas para aprimorar as políticas, a capacidade e a qualidade da atenção às crianças nas Américas, apoiando os ministérios na integração das intervenções contra o câncer infantil como parte do fortalecimento dos sistemas.

25 years of collaboration between EUPHA and the Observatory

The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies was founded in 1998 at a time of transition, from communism in Eastern Europe and to new means of paying for and delivering healthcare everywhere. Since then, Europe has confronted both longstanding challenges and new ones, including wars, the financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change. The Observatory and the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) have collaborated to address these public health challenges. Looking ahead, there is much to be done together to transform health systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Prioridades de políticas de salud. Encuentro SESPAS en la XXXIII Escuela de Salud Pública de Menorca / Health policy priorities. SESPAS meeting at the XXXIII School of Public Health of Menorca

Objetivo: En el mes de septiembre de 2022, la Sociedad Espa ˜nola de Salud Pública y AdministraciónSanitaria (SESPAS) reunió un panel de personas expertas con el objetivo de definir y priorizar las políticasde salud, desde una perspectiva del conjunto del Estado, para adaptar el Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS)a los actuales riesgos y la actual sociedad.Método: Reunión de personas expertas, estructurada siguiendo procedimientos adaptados de las técni-cas de brainstorming, grupo nominal y método de consenso Rand. La relevancia y la factibilidad de laspropuestas fueron valoradas individualmente por cada panelista, y se ordenaron temáticamente y enfunción de la mediana y la desviación cuartil de las puntuaciones de relevancia.Resultados: Los/las panelistas identificaron y priorizaron numerosas propuestas en áreas de gobernanzay financiación del SNS, reforma de la cartera de servicios y prestaciones, reforma de los recursos humanosdel SNS, salud pública y políticas de salud, actuaciones frente a las desigualdades y la pobreza, y asistenciasanitaria del SNS, incluyendo la atención sociosanitaria, primaria y al final de la vida.Conclusiones: Los resultados del Encuentro muestran la urgente necesidad de abordar cambios en pro-fundidad en muchas de las políticas de salud estatales, incluyendo una importante reconfiguración ensus estructuras de gobernanza, salud pública y atención sanitaria. También sugieren hacia dónde podríanorientarse tales cambios, conformando una guía tentativa de temas prioritarios a abordar.(AU)

Objective: In September 2022, the Sociedad Espa ˜nola de Salud Pública y Administración Sanitaria (SESPAS)brought together a panel of experts with the aim of defining and prioritizing health policy proposals, fromthe perspective of the Spanish State as a whole, to adapt the National Health System (NHS) to currentrisks and to contemporary/present-day society.Method: Expert meeting structured using a mix of procedures adapted from brainstorming, nominalgroup and Rand consensus method techniques. Relevance and feasibility of proposals identified wereassessed individually by each panelist. Proposals were then ordered thematically and ranked accordingto the median and quartile deviation of relevance scores.Results: Panelists identified and prioritized several proposals in different areas: governance and fundingof the NHS, reform of the portfolio of services and benefits and of the NHS human resources, publichealth and health policy, actions against inequality and poverty, and healthcare delivery reform, includingsocio-sanitary, primary and end-of-life care.Conclusions: The results of the meeting show the urgent need to address in-depth changes in manystate-wide health policies, including a major reconfiguration of governance, public health, and healthcare structures. They also point out potential areas of improvement, constituting a tentative guide ofprioritized issues to be addressed.(AU)

Las Investigaciones en Servicios y Sistemas de Salud, instrumento de gestión en la atención sanitaria / Research in Health Services and Systems, a management tool in health care

Mejorar los procesos de atención en los servicios sanitarios es una prioridad del Ministerio de Salud Pública en Cuba y la Investigación en Servicios y Sistemas de Salud. Las proyecciones en este campo pueden estar dirigidas a la descripción de problemas de salud y de los servicios, la evaluación de intervenciones en salud (promoción, prevención, curación y rehabilitación) y las enfocadas en determinar situaciones problemáticas surgidas en la aplicación de actividades sanitarias con el objetivo de analizar las causas posibles y encontrar soluciones. Las investigaciones en servicios y sistemas de salud facilitan la planificación, organización, evaluación y control de los servicios y aportan evidencias para la dirección científica del sistema de Salud, por lo que el objetivo del artículo es analizar los aspectos metodológicos y organizacionales de las Investigaciones en Servicios y Sistemas de Salud y posibilitar la participación de los profesionales y directivos de múltiples disciplinas que propician la intersectorialidad.

Improving care processes in health services is a priority of the Ministry of Public Health in Cuba and Research in Health Services and Systems. The projections in this field can be aimed at the description of health problems and services, the evaluation of health interventions (promotion, prevention, cure, and rehabilitation) and those focused on determining problematic situations that arise in the application of health activities with the objective of analyzing the possible causes and finding solutions. Research in health services and systems facilitate the planning, organization, evaluation, and control of services and provide evidence for the scientific direction of the health system, so the objective of the article is to analyze the methodological and organizational aspects of Research in Health Services and Systems and enable the participation of professionals and managers from multiple disciplines that foster intersectoriality.

La investigación en los servicios públicos de salud y su reconocimiento en las carreras profesionales de las comunidades autónomas en España / Research in public health services and its recognition in the professional careers in the regions of Spain

Objetivo: La investigación es una actividad accesoria para la mayoría de los profesionales sanitarios del Sistema Nacional de Salud. Una forma de reconocimiento de su valor es mediante las carreras profesionales. Fue nuestro objetivo comparar la valoración de la actividad investigadora entre las carreras profesionales de los servicios de salud de las distintas comunidades autónomas. Diseño: Revisión de los acuerdos, resoluciones y decretos que definen las carreras profesionales de cada comunidad recogidas de las webs corporativas de los servicios de salud y consejerías de sanidad. Sitio: Comisión de investigación e innovación en salud del Servicio Extremeño de Salud. Participantes: Miembros de la citada comisión. Métodos: Se realizó una comparación atendiendo si la actividad investigadora se valora de forma aislada de otros conceptos, si se considera para avanzar en distintos niveles, si para alguno es requisito y el porcentaje de puntuación asignada al bloque al que pertenece. Resultados: Casi todas las comunidades autónomas consideran la investigación como mérito en todos los niveles de carrera. La puntuación asignada al bloque que incorpora la investigación se sitúa entre 4 y 50%. Solo se considera de forma independiente en Canarias, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-León, Cataluña, Madrid y Murcia. Son requisito para subir de determinado nivel en Canarias y Castilla-León. Conclusiones: Existe una alta variabilidad en el reconocimiento de la actividad investigadora entre comunidades. Las carreras que mejor valoran la investigación serían las de Canarias y Castilla-León, que la consideran como actividad independiente y llega a ser un requisito. Con enfoques más negativos están aquellas en las que se pueden ascender, hasta el nivel más alto, sin realizar ninguna aportación en investigación.(AU)

Objective: Health research is an accessory activity for most health professionals in the national health service of Spain. One way to recognize your worth is through professional careers. The objective of this paper has been to compare how research activity is valued in the professional careers of the health services of the different regions of Spain. Design: Review of agreements, resolutions and decrees that define the professional careers of each community collected from the corporate websites of health services and health ministries. Site: Health Research and Innovation Commission of the Extremadura Health Service. Participants: Members of said commission. Methods: The following was considered for comparison: if the research activity is valued in isolation from other concepts, if it is considered to advance in different levels, if it is a requirement for any of them, and the percentage of score assigned to the block to which it belongs. Results: Almost all the regions consider research as merit at all career levels. The score of the research block is between 4 and 50% of overall. They are only considered independently, of others activities, in the Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-León, Cataluña, Madrid and Murcia. They are required to climb a certain level in the Canary Islands and Castilla-León. Conclusions: There is a high variability in the recognition of research activity between regions. The careers that best value research would be those of the Canary Islands and Castilla-León, which consider it an independent activity and it becomes a requirement. The regions that have a more negative approach are those that can be promoted to the highest level, without making any contribution to research.(AU)

Pesquisa traça raio de infecção em casos de febre amarela

Publicado na revista científica Parasites and Vectors, um estudo liderado pelo Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz) em parceria com o Instituto Federal do Norte de Minas Gerais (IFNMG) revela características importantes desse surto, que podem contribuir para o planejamento de ações de vigilância e controle do agravo.

The Roles of Regional Organisations in Strengthening Health Research Systems in Africa: Activities, Gaps, and Future Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Regional cooperation on health in Africa is not new. The institutional landscape of regional cooperation for health and health research, however, has seen important changes. Recent health emergencies have focussed regional bodies' attention on supporting aspects of national health preparedness and response. The state of national health research systems is a key element of capacity to plan and respond to health needs - raising questions about the roles African regional bodies can or should play in strengthening health research systems. METHODS: We mapped regional organisations involved in health research across Africa and conducted 18 interviews with informants from 15 regional organisations. We investigated the roles, challenges, and opportunities of these bodies in strengthening health research. We deductively coded interview data using themes from established pillars of health research systems - governance, creating resources, research production and use, and financing. We analysed organisations' relevant activities in these areas, how they do this work, and where they perceive impact. RESULTS: Regional organisations with technical foci on health or higher education (versus economic or political remits) were involved in all four areas. Most organisations reported activities in governance and research use. Involvement in governance centred mainly around agenda-setting and policy harmonisation. For organisations involved in creating resources, activities focused on strengthening human resources, but few reported developing research institutions, networks, or infrastructure. Organisations reported more involvement in disseminating than producing research. Generally, few have directly contributed to financing health research. Informants reported gaps in research coordination, infrastructure, and advocacy at regional level. Finally, we found regional bodies' mandates, authority, and collaborations influence their activities in supporting national health research systems. CONCLUSION: Continued strengthening of health research on the African continent requires strategic thinking about the roles, comparative advantages, and capability of regional organisations to facilitate capacity and growth of health research systems.

Health policy and systems research capacity development to support maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in West and Central Africa

Objectives: To examine how and why a South-South capacity development and networking program for leadership, research, practice and advocacy on maternal new-born, child and adolescent health and health policy and systems strengthening in West Africa and Cameroon worked and identify lessons for low- and middle-income countries. Design: Single qualitative case study drawing on data from document review, observations, key informant interviews and a deliberative workshop. Ethics approval for primary data collection was obtained from the Ghana Health Service Ethical Review Committee (GHS-ERC 012/10/18). Setting: West Africa and Cameroon Participants: Researchers, policy and programme managers and frontline health workers Interventions: Networking and capacity development Results: The programme made good progress in implementing many but not all planned capacity development and networking activities. The opportunity to network with other organisations and individuals and across countries, disciplines, and languages as well as to learn, to develop skills, and obtain mentorship support, were considered valuable benefits of the partnership. Human and financial resource constraints meant that not all planned interventions could be implemented. Conclusions: Lessons for health policy and systems research capacity building in LMIC include the potential of South-South partnerships, the need for dedicated resources, the potential of Sub-regional health organizations to support capacity building and recognition that each effort builds on preceding efforts of others, and that it is important to explore and understand where the energy and momentum for change lies.

Reflections from the COVID-19 pandemic on inequalities and patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) in social care, health and public health research.

Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) has evolved to become widely established practice in social care, health and public health research in the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused rapid change in practice in PPIE, notably in moving from face-to-face meetings to virtual ones. This has opened a space for reflecting on established PPIE practice, but there is a risk this is conducted too narrowly, such as only weighing our preferences and the relative pros and cons with regard to in-person versus virtual meetings. The pandemic has also demonstrated the wide inequalities in society, and hence, we argue that an inequalities lens ought to guide a deeper and wider reflection on PPIE practice. We do not seek to criticize practice pre- or during the pandemic, but to encourage using the inequalities lens as a means of encouraging debate and focusing energy on a more rigorous review of PPIE practice to widen involvement in social care, health and public health research.

Pesquisa da UFJF é selecionada pelo Fundo de Pesquisa Lemann Harvard Brazil 2021

O estudo liderado pela pesquisadora do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da UFJF, Rossana Melo, foi selecionado entre sete projetos brasileiros que serão financiados pelo Fundo de Pesquisa Lemann Harvard Brazil 2021. O objetivo da proposta contemplada é investigar os papéis desempenhados pelos eosinófilos no combate à infecção causada pela Covid-19 no corpo humano. Os eosinófilos são um tipo de leucócito, células responsáveis pela defesa do sistema imunológico humano que agem diretamente contra os mais diversos agentes infecciosos. Como os processos agressivos da doença provocada pela Covid-19 ainda são desconhecidos pela ciência, a pesquisa explora se os eosinófilos têm papel principal no combate à replicação do vírus no corpo.

Epidemiological Analysis of 37,424 Carotid Artery Stenosis Intervention Procedures During 11 Years in the Public Health System in Brazil: Stenting has Been More Common Than Endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide, with carotid atherosclerosis accounting for 10-20% of cases. In Brazil, the Public Health System provides care for roughly two-thirds of the population. No studies, however, have analysed large-scale results of carotid bifurcation surgery in Brazil. METHODS: This study aimed to describe rates of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) performed between 2008 and 2019 in the country through web scraping of publicly available databases. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2019, 37,424 carotid bifurcation revascularization procedures were performed, of which 22,578 were CAS (60.34%) and 14,846 (39.66%) were CEA. There were 620 in-hospital deaths (1.66%), 336 after CAS (1.48%) and 284 after CEA (1.92%) (P = 0.032). Governmental reimbursement was US$ 77,216,298.85 (79.31% of all reimbursement) for CAS procedures and US$ 20,143,009.63 (20.69%) for CEA procedures. The average cost per procedure for CAS (US$ 3,062.98) was higher than that for CEA (US$ 1,430.33) (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, the frequency of CAS largely surpassed that of CEA. In-hospital mortality rates of CAS were significantly lower than those of CEA, although both had mortality rates within the acceptable rates as dictated by literature. The cost of CAS, however, was significantly higher. This is a pioneering analysis of carotid artery disease management in Brazil that provides, for the first time, preliminary insight into the fact that the low adoption of CEA in the country is in opposition to countries where utilization rates are higher for CEA than for CAS.

A conceptual framework for socializing the Iranian health system

Background: Socializing the health system is a new approach to participatory governance that aims to promote community health and enhance sustainable health equity in the community. This approach is a part of health system reform in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Aims: This study aimed to develop a conceptual framework for socializing the health system in the Islamic Republic of Iran as a theoretical basis for this reform. Methods: Data were gathered through a review of the literature, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and panel discussions. Participants were experts in the field of health systems within the health ministry and medical universities. Content analysis was used to analyse the data and identify core values, principles, and approaches for socializing the health system. Results: The core values identified included human dignity, equity, ethics, and trust. The principles were participation, empowerment, human rights, and responsiveness. The approaches identified were good governance, a health-oriented focus, capacity-building, a process-oriented method, and improvement in the social determinants of health. A strong political will was considered essential for socializing the health system. Conclusions: The conceptual framework outlines requirements for socializing the Iranian health system. As this is a new approach in health system governance, however, it needs to be refined and redefined through implementation and evaluation.