Table 3 Most significant events related to the primary health care in the world and District Health Network in Iran

Ideas

Trends, experiences and evidence related to the idea of “Health Network Policy” in Iran:

-International

• Establishment of the World Health Organization; Kennedy’s Peace Corps Thesis, The China’s barefoot doctors, strengthening of Social Justice Approaches in Global Health; Alma-Ata International Conference.

-National

• Training of Assistant Physicians (Behdār) in Iran, the establishment of Health Corps, Training of Assistant Physicians (Behdār) in Kavar (Fars Province), Rezaieh National Project.

-Beliefs and discourses:

Dominant discourse: helping the disadvantage groups especially rural area

Empathy and social cohesion: supportive context for participatory plans

Interests

• Existence of opposition to DHN policy and overcoming it by advocacies and almost aligning the interests of the parliament with the goals of DHN policy

Institutions

• Rules: Article 20, 29 and 43 of the Iranian Constitution

• Addressing the health and sanitation status of rural areas was one of the main expectations of people from the government in that time

• Policy Network: Establishment of the network with strong relationships between designers of DHN policy and politicians (Minister of health and his deputy) due to the old friendship and common experiences and beliefs.