Pharmaceutical subsidy policy in Iran: a qualitative stakeholder analysis

Abstract Background Over the past three decades, allocation of foreign currency subsidies has been the primary strategy of various administrations in Iran to improve access to medicines. This strategy has resulted in several challenges, including stakeholder conflicts of interest. Objective To identify the power, interest, and role of the stakeholders in allocating foreign currency subsidies to medicines in the Iranian health system. Methods In this qualitative study, 39 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Key informants were recruited using a purposive sampling technique. The theoretical framework adopted by Varvasovszky and Brugha was employed. The data were analysed using directed content analysis. Results The foreign currency subsidy for medicines included 21 stakeholders in five main categories: governmental organizations, Iranian Parliament, general population, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the pharmaceutical industry. Stakeholders varied in their level of participation and support in the policy-making process. Among them, the Iranian Government, Planning and Budget Organization, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME), and Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) were the most important stakeholders, with highly supportive positions, while domestic drug manufacturers were the strongest opponents of this policy. The Government of Iran is the most powerful institution with regard to the ability to allocate foreign currency subsidies to medicines, followed by the MoHME and the IFDA. Conclusion This study demonstrated that identifying and analysing the stakeholders involved in allocating foreign currency subsidies to medicines can provide valuable information for policy-makers to enable a more comprehensive understanding and better capacity to determine whether or not to eliminate these subsidies. Moreover, decision-making in this process is a long-term issue that requires consensus among all stakeholders. Because of the political and social consequences of eliminating foreign currency subsidies, the necessary political will is not institutionalized. We recommend a step-by-step approach in eliminating foreign currency subsidies if the requirements are met (i.e., those related to the consequences of such interventions). Therefore, revision of the current policy along with these requirements, in addition to financial transparency and enhanced efficiency, will facilitate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by improving access to medicines.

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Educational Policy: Voices from Local English Teachers and Students towards National Exam in Yogyakarta

Metathesis Journal of English Language Literature and Teaching ◽

10.31002/metathesis.v4i2.2801 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 217

Author(s):

Laser Romios ◽

Nindya Primandita ◽

Novilda Angela Saragih

Keyword(s):

Language Learning ◽

English Language ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

English Teachers ◽

School Level ◽

Learning Activity ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Teachers And Students ◽

The Government

This study is aimed at exploring the voices of English teachers and students of a state senior high school towards the National Exam policy and its implementation in Indonesia. Several theories of psychology and language learning were applied in this study as the theoretical framework. This study used a descriptive qualitative method. The participants were chosen by purposive sampling technique. The data for this study were garnered through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) conducted to the selected twelfth-grade students and semi-structured interviews done to two English teachers. Both data were analyzed descriptively. Upon the analysis, two paramount themes prevailed: (1) the negative response towards the implementation and accuracy of National Exam (NE) policy in Indonesia; and (2) unintended impacts of NE policy on teaching and learning activity, students’ motivation, and English Language Learning and Curriculum. This study offers information for the government as the policymaker, school leaders, teachers, and researchers to understand how the NE is implemented at the school level.

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Online-Based Learning: Challenges and Strategies of Freshman Language Learners

Journal of Learning and Development Studies ◽

10.32996/jlds.2021.1.1.6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 53-66

Author(s):

Danica Jane Barrera

Keyword(s):

Online Education ◽

Language Learners ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Class Discussion ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Individual Interviews ◽

Face To Face Learning ◽

The Government ◽

Challenges And Strategies

The increasing demand for the implementation of an alternative learning scheme to aid the sudden setback in the field of education has been one of the most debated topics among the government and educational sectors worldwide. With the impossibility of face-to-face learning, the government had to devise an attainable learning substitution plan which resulted in the birth of online education. This study is one of the few studies that seek to determine the challenges and strategies used by freshman language learners in online education in the midst of a pandemic. Furthermore, a descriptive-qualitative design was employed in the study. Hence, the data were gathered using semi-structured interviews. The respondents for this study were identified by means of a purposive sampling technique. On that account, the respondents were handpicked in consideration to the inclusion criteria. Moreover, in depth individual interviews were conducted to seven respondents, five females and 2 males. To analyze the data, thematic analysis was utilized. The challenges that emerged in the study are the following: High-cost internet access, less social engagement and inactive class discussion, unfamiliarity of the new learning modality, internet connectivity, stress inducing school-works, lack of technological resources, location-related stressors and unpredictability of power outages. The paper concludes with the four emerging themes concerning the strategies freshman language learners use in online education and how those strategies aid the aforementioned challenges.

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The Structural Factors Facilitating Post-Earthquake Compromise between Contracting Parties

MIMBAR Jurnal Sosial dan Pembangunan ◽

10.29313/mimbar.v35i1.4238 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 127-136

Author(s):

Rinel Fitlayeni ◽

Marleni Marleni ◽

Ikhsan Muharma Putra ◽

Afrizal Afrizal ◽

Indraddin Indraddin

Keyword(s):

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Structural Factors ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Study Results ◽

West Sumatra ◽

Personal Approach ◽

The Government ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Post Disaster

The earthquake on September 30, 2009 occurred in West Sumatra had caused great loses and damages in several cities, including the central market known as Pasar Raya in Padang City. This condition had led to various malfunctions and local communities were unable to meet post-disaster needs. The government as the authority was not fully in line with local needs that caused the occurrence of several conflicts of interest between the Government and the traders of Pasar Raya. This research is applying the qualitative approach with descriptive types. The informants are selected through purposive sampling technique consisting of traders and the government of Padang City. The data collection techniques are in-depth interviews, document studies, and focus group discussions (FGD). The study results show that the conflicts were no longer took place openly due to the compromise among parties involved with points as follows: a) the involvement of third parties to resolve the conflict, b) personal approach to the traders, c) resolving conflicts through non-litigation by the government.

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Factors influencing ecotourism in Wasur national park Merauke regency

International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Studies ◽

10.31559/ijhts2020.1.2.5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 119-126

Author(s):

Samel W. Ririhena ◽

Alexander Phuk Tjilen ◽

Edi Cahyono ◽

Inez Cara Alexander Phoek

Keyword(s):

National Parks ◽

National Park ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Economic Life ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Face To Face ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

Government Planning ◽

The Government

Government planning to promote tourism in Indonesia, including national parks, needs to be more serious to have a positive impact on the economic welfare of a region and the welfare of the community, the same things for Wasur National Park (TNW) in Merauke, Papua Province, Indonesia. This paper reports on the determinant factors of TNW's role in its management as ecotourism and conservation parks. This study uses qualitative methods, with semi-structured interviews and face-to-face. Interviews were conducted with the Department of Tourism, TNW managers, Non-Governmental Organizations, community leaders, religious leaders and researchers from Musamus University and field observers. This research results as follows: TNW has a tourist attraction in the form of a natural panorama consisting of several different spots, many tourists who are not recorded (do not pay entrance fees). Lodging and culinary facilities are still managed traditionally. Therefore, foreign tourists bring their own equipment and needs. In general, transportation to TNW is relatively expensive. The Local Government provides buses for transportation from Merauke Regency to TNW, but tourists prefer renting a car. Local wisdom has contributed so that the natural conditions of TNW are still well preserved and most are still natural. On the other hand, there has not been a serious effort to promote TNW and partnership cooperation with related industries to optimize the potential of TNW has not been done much. The results of this study are crucial for the Government, industry, and the community in a joint effort to optimize the potential of TNW ecotourism to obtain a positive impact on economic life, improve community welfare and conservation.

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Nurses’ Actions to Protect Their Families from COVID-19: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Global Qualitative Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/23333936211014851 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 233339362110148

Author(s):

Restuning Widiasih ◽

Ermiati ◽

Etika Emaliyawati ◽

Sri Hendrawati ◽

Raini Diah Susanti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Service Providers ◽

Social Stigma ◽

Family Members ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Health Service Providers ◽

Qualitative Descriptive ◽

The Government ◽

And Behavior

As health service providers, nurses are at a high risk of COVID-19 infection, as are their family members who live with them. This study aimed to explore nurses’ actions to protect their families from COVID-19 in Indonesia. This qualitative descriptive study included seventeen nurses who were chosen using the snowball sampling technique. The semi structured interviews explored nurses’ actions and behavior, and comparative analysis was performed to analyze the data. The study identified four themes: nurses modified their behavior and environments to protect their families, provided supplements and nutritious food, enhanced their families’ knowledge and awareness of COVID-19, and protected their families from social stigma. Nurses play active roles in the health of their family members. The government should support nurses in their roles so that they can remain healthy while caring for COVID-19 patients, and not transmit COVID-19 to their own families.

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Perilaku Anak Jalanan dan Strategi Pengentasannya di Bandung, Bogor, dan Jakarta

Jurnal Penyuluhan ◽

10.25015/penyuluhan.v5i1.9769 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sri Tjahjorini ◽

Sumardjo Sumardjo ◽

Margono Slamet ◽

Djoko Susanto ◽

Darwis S Gani

Keyword(s):

Formal Education ◽

Family Background ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Street Children ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Street Child ◽

Limited Information ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Social Ministry ◽

The Government

Street child problems, like iceberge phenomenon, of which the regional pockets, the distribution and the age tremendously increase day by day. Since 1997 the government of Indonesia through the Social Ministry has been carrying out efforts to overcome the problems, but up to now the efforts have not yielded the expected results because of the limited information of the problems. The present research was addressed to provide informations on the phenomenon profiles of street children and strategies for their elimination in Bandung, Bogor and Jakarta. Data were collected using structured interviews, focus group discussion and direct observation. The collected data were analysed using parametric and non-parametric statistics. Population were street children, 5-21 years of age. Sample in each region was consisted of 75 persons, 50 males and 25 famales, drawn using cluster random sampling technique, and 25 parents of the respondens as a cross check. The influence of family background on the street children behavior, direct or indirectly, was more obvious compared to that of environmental background. The latter was indirect through sociologic characteristics of the street children particularly on the non formal education. Strategy for elimination of the street children could be equally applied for the whole regions, except for its approach, which can use the TRIBINA, which means Human Building, Environmental Building and Efforts Building could be employed.

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Arab Spring and COVID-19: Ex post facto examination of the Lebanese banking sector (the contemporary stakeholder analysis)

Banks and Bank Systems ◽

10.21511/bbs.15(4).2020.11 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 121-136

Author(s):

Rania Itani ◽

Muhammad Azeem ◽

Nawazish Mirza

Keyword(s):

Arab Spring ◽

Banking Sector ◽

Stakeholder Analysis ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Moderating Factors ◽

Ex Post ◽

Ex Post Facto ◽

Financial Consequences ◽

The Government ◽

The Arab Spring

The purpose of this study is to examine the potential of Lebanese banks to address the economic challenges posed by COVID-19. These banks faced the disturbances of the 2011 Arab Spring, and these two crises have resulted in similar economic conditions, leading to an assessment of how Lebanese banks are dealing with the pandemic-led challenges. Exploratory analysis revealed the common features in the two events, and confirmatory analysis examined the hypotheses underlying a theoretical framework. Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data helped to scrutinize the two events. Content analysis of data collected from semi-structured interviews with seven senior banking professionals confirms that the Lebanese banking sector’s experience gained during the Arab Spring is a valuable asset for bankers, the Banque du Liban (BDL), and the government, which can be used to anticipate and deal with the COVID-driven economic crisis. The study finds three key moderating factors: trust deficit, inherited characteristics of the economy, and fiscal and monetary policy. Most of these conditions are permanent in nature and require long-term planning. As this research was conducted before the catastrophe caused by the August 2020 Beirut explosion, no aspects of the financial consequences to the Lebanese banking sector and economy resulting from this immerse shock are included.

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The socioeconomic effects of small-scale women businesses in broom production and marketing industry

Journal of Enterprising Communities People and Places in the Global Economy ◽

10.1108/jec-11-2018-0080 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 283-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ijeoma Ikejiofor Nwosu ◽

Rita Oluchi Onoyima ◽

Ignatius Ani Madu ◽

Victor Chukwunweike Nwokocha

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Socioeconomic Development ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Small Scale ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Content Type ◽

Job Opportunities ◽

The Government

Purpose Broom production and marketing is a local business industry operated by women in Nigeria. This activity serves not only as a source of livelihood to women but also has created job opportunities for the teeming unemployed persons in the rural areas. This paper aims to examine socioeconomic effects of small-scale women businesses in broom production and marketing industry in Nigeria with a view to analyze small-scale women businesses in Igbo Eze North District of Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach New economic theory was used to guide the study. The study adopted a quantitative research design comprising of semi-structured interviews, field observations, reference to relevant literature and a questionnaire survey of 340 female households engaged in broom production and marketing from fifteen villages. This sample size was selected using purposive sampling technique and Yamane formula. Frequencies and Spearman rank correlation were used to analyze the data. Findings The study found that broom production and marketing have an effect on the socioeconomic development of the people. The study found a positive relationship between broom production and marketing and income generated, education and occupation in the study area. This study concluded by suggesting that broom production in the study area should be mechanized to improve the quality and quantity of broom produced in the area. Practical implications This study has shown that Nigerian women have good potentials for entrepreneurship. Both the society and the government authorities should work together in supporting female ventures in Nigeria. Originality/value The paper empirically has shown the socioeconomic effects of small-scale women businesses in broom production and marketing on local household of Igbo Eze North District of Nigeria. This study stands as the first in Nigeria to consider the effects of broom production and marketing and how women in this part of Nigeria have used it to create job opportunities and opportunities of income for themselves and their families.

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UNDERSTANDING THE ATTITUDES AND FACTORS INFLUENCING ORGAN DONATION DECISIONS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews ◽

10.18510/hssr.2020.818 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 52-59

Author(s):

Sonia Umair ◽

Jo Ann Ho ◽

Norazlyn Kamal Basha ◽

Serene Siew-Imm Ng ◽

Umair Waqas

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

University Students ◽

Organ Donation ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Family Influence ◽

Moral Norms ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

The Government ◽

Posthumous Organ Donation

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to identify factors that were important in posthumous organ donation decisions in a developing country such as Pakistan. Methodology: A qualitative study was conducted with 50 semi-structured interviews among students of one public and one private university in Lahore (Pakistan) to understand their attitudes and factors influencing their decisions on posthumous organ donations. Purposive sampling technique was used in this study. The interview questions focused on the level of knowledge, motivation and overall attitude towards the posthumous organ donation decision of the respondents. Main Findings: There was a lack of general knowledge among university students in Pakistan. Most of the students had a positive attitude for posthumous organ donation yet moral norms are very influential in the decision-making process for organ donation after death. Those who were willing were reluctant because of the influence of family and friends. Religion was also another significant norm factor for prohibiting them to be an organ donor after death. Implications/Applications: The present study provided a way in the advancement of knowledge towards an understanding of the attitude, moral norms along with social and family influence for not only intention to donate but also signing the donor card. The findings of the study are useful for the government, policymakers and the organizations in Pakistan in their efforts to increase awareness and organ donation rates in the country. Novelty/Originality: The present research was exploratory and the intention for this research was to explore the underlying behavioral and normative beliefs which may inhibit or encourage organ donation among university students. Such qualitative studies are relatively uncommon in transplant literature.

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PERCEIVED EFFECTS OF STREET HAWKING ON THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN IN ANYIGBA, DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Pakistan Journal of Public Health ◽

10.32413/pjph.v8i1.138 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 01-07

Author(s):

Alfred Eboh

Keyword(s):

Local Government ◽

Survey Design ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Well Being ◽

Local Government Area ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Perceived Effects ◽

The Government

Background: The hawking of wares by children has been a serious issue confronting the Nigerian society. Children hawk in some of the most horrible conditions conceivable, where they face a serious risk of injury, chronic illness, kidnapping, rape or death. Objective: The focus of this study was to assess the perceived effects of street hawking on the well-being of children in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. Methods: The population of this study consists of parents of the street hawkers in Anyigba while cross-sectional survey design was used through the purposive sampling technique to choose the sample size of one hundred and sixty-two (162) respondents. The validated structured questionnaire and In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) served as the instruments for the data collection respectively. The hypotheses were tested using Chi-Square at a predetermined 0.05 level of significance. The quantitative data were analysed with the aid of the SPSS (version 20). Results: The results indicated among others that street hawking had significant social implications and physical consequences on children's moral behaviour as well as health status in the study area. Conclusion: The study, therefore, concluded that the government of Kogi State should carry out an enlightenment campaign through the media and religious institutions on the negative consequences of street hawking are recommended as panacea. Also, the child right act instrument and its implementation should be strengthened in order to curb street hawking in the study area.

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