Prioritizing the Factors Affecting the Selection of Diagnostic Medical Equipment in Iranian Public Hospitals

Background: Purchasing medical equipment is one of the most important decisions in hospitals. This study identified and prioritized the factors affecting the purchase of diagnostic medical equipment in public hospitals in Iran so that according to the limited resources of the health system, it is possible to take optimal steps to improve the quality of health services. Method: This study was performed in 2019 by the qualitative method. Participants in the study were medical equipment managers and health technology assessment experts working at Iranian University Hospitals (UHs) who were purposefully selected. After recording, all interviews were transcribed and coded, and then the data were categorized into main and sub-categories using framework analysis. The data were saturated after 15 semi-structured interviews. Results: The research findings showed that 15 different components of purchasing diagnostic medical equipment in UHs of Iran are considered, among which quality, initial cost, ease of use, and observance of rules and regulations are among the most important components. Conclusion: Using standard criteria for purchasing diagnostic technologies in the hospital can lead to the identification and selection of the best brands for the purchase of equipment, and with the proper management of health resources, justice and the promotion of the health system can be achieved.