en Community Health Community Health Original Research Original Research <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-style:italic"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">Background: </span></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">The social approach to health (TSATH) is necessary for maintaining and promoting health status in societies toward achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). Despite various attempts, the health sector in Iran is behind in the meaningful implementation of TSATH. This study analyzed the policy of TSATH in Iran. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Methods:</b> This was a qualitative study. The participants in the research included 36 experts and senior managers of health-related organizations in Iran who were selected using a targeted and snowball method.&nbsp; We used 3 methods for data collection: in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document review. Inspired by Walt & Gilson&#39;s policy triangle and stage heuristic framework, we conducted a thematic analysis and used MAXQDA software Version 19 for data management.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Results:</b> TSATH was an immediate political decision in Iran. We found insufficient social participation and intersectoral collaboration, conflict of interest, inadequate evidence-based policy-making as well as necessary resources among the most important barriers to implementing the policy of TSATH. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Conclusion:</b>&nbsp; Institutionalizing TSATH requires long-term, evidence-based planning and effective participation of all stakeholders. Providing the necessary resources and infrastructure, appropriate context and good steering, accountability, and creating a sustainable livelihood program, especially for the lowest-income deciles of society, are key measures to improve TSATH. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp; Social Approach to Health, Institutionalization, Policy analysis, Iran 536 547 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-6625-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Ataollah Asadi Louyeh a.a.louyeh@gmail.com 200319475328460091759 200319475328460091759 No Department of Health Management, Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Amirhossein Takian takian@tums.ac.ir 200319475328460091760 200319475328460091760 Yes Department of Health Policy, Management & Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Batoul Ahmadi ahmadib1332@gmail.com 200319475328460091761 200319475328460091761 No Department of Health Management, Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Arab arabmoha@tums.ac.ir 200319475328460091762 200319475328460091762 No Department of Health Management, Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali Davoudi kiakalayeh davoudikiakalayeh@gmail.com 200319475328460091763 200319475328460091763 No Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Road Trauma Research Center, Trauma Institute, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran