The Communicable Diseases Surveillance System in Iran: Challenges and Opportunities

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the challenges and opportunities of the Communicable Diseases Surveillance System (CDSS) in Iran. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) with 64 participants from October 2016 to April 2017. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit participants. The collected data were analyzed via content analysis method. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA10 software. Results: The results of this qualitative study were categorized in two parts: Challenges and opportunities. The CDSS is facing challenges in the fields of stewardship, reporting, information analysis, information, interventions, and education. Good infrastructures and structure, the technical support provided by the Centre for Communicable Diseases Control (CCDC), the achievements of the CDSS, and the suitable electronic systems are among the opportunities of CDSS. Conclusion: The results of this study show that CDSS has several major challenges. Authorities and policymakers must not ignore communicable diseases and their management tools, including CDSS because of their focus on non-communicable diseases. Some important strategies to overcome the challenges of CDSS can be the followings: motivating policy makers to put emphasis on communicable diseases as a national security issue, the ratification and modification of laws and regulations on reporting, the involvement of the CDSS in the accreditation of hospitals and the renewal of the license for healthcare professionals, and motivating the organizations outside the health sector to participate in the programs through inter-institutional agreements.