Reducing out of pocket (OOP) payments for inpatient services and eradicating informal payments was one of the objectives of Iran’s health transformation plan (HTP). This study determines the change in frequency of OOP payments and informal cash payments for health services as reduction of OOP payments for inpatient services improves people’s access to such services and enhances equity. The elimination of informal payments reduces the probability of corruption in the health system.
The study was conducted by evaluating over 250 patients discharged from various hospitals in the Kurdistan province in Iran over three years (2013-15). Results show that the implementation of the HTP has reduced the OOP payments for inpatient services and had a positive impact on informal payments to physicians in Kurdistan province.
