Good governance, as one of the fundamental concepts in managing health systems, plays a critical role in improving efficiency, effectiveness, and equity in delivering healthcare services. Emphasizing principles such as transparency, accountability, participation, and rule of law, good governance has been regarded as a framework for enhancing policymaking and management within health systems.
Objective: This study aimed to design and propose a model of good governance in the health system using a combined approach of thematic analysis and the partial least squares (PLS) method.
Methodology: The research employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. In the qualitative phase, the research population consisted of managers, experts in health and medical sciences, senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and academic scholars. Seventeen participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods until theoretical saturation was achieved. In the quantitative phase, the PLS method was utilized to fit the proposed model. The statistical population included all health and medical professionals in Iran. Based on Cochran’s formula, the minimum sample size was calculated to be 384 participants.
Findings: The results of thematic analysis in the qualitative phase, followed by model fitting in the quantitative phase, revealed that the final model of good governance in the health system consists of seven main dimensions: effectiveness, efficiency, equity, transparency and accountability, participation, rule of law, and leadership. Each dimension was further divided into specific components, confirming their significance in strengthening good governance.
Conclusion: This study presents a comprehensive model of good governance for the health system, offering a framework to enhance policymaking, management, and performance in this field. The proposed model can serve as a tool for strategic decision-making and improving managerial structures.