Foresight Based on MADM-Based Scenarios’ Approach: A Case about Comprehensive Sustainable Health Financing Models

• Main Authors: Sarfaraz Hashemkhani Zolfani, Reza Dehnavieh, Atousa Poursheikhali, Olegas Prentkovskis, Payam Khazaelpour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-12-01
• Series: Symmetry
• Subjects: future scenarios; sustainable health insurance model; multiple attribute decision making (madm)-based scenarios; step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (swara); weighted aggregated sum product assessment (waspas)
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/12/1/61

As indicated by a worldwide common perspective about health and sustainable health systems, the health structure as a part of public health is a key theme of many societies. The future is shaped by probable future scenarios, for which dealing practically has many complications. This study is focused on the future scenarios for a comprehensive sustainable health financing model to support a superior structure for a decision and policy-making pilot for the society. This aim is followed based on multiple attribute decision making (MADM)-based scenarios using two MADM methods, step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) and weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS), as a hybrid model which is the first real case study of the approach. Four main probable future scenarios are identified and selected based on experts’ viewpoints about sustainable health financing models. These scenarios include membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), dynamic basic insurance, international cooperation, and effective resources management. The process of evaluating based on the approach works as a wider picture, including all criteria and alternatives together. Sustainable medical services, empowering the private sector in both production and technology, and employing international managers took place as the top priority for considering the most applicable alternatives in the future. This structure is designed and developed in Iran’s context, and the Institute for Futures Studies in Health is the pilot of the research.