en Health Management and Economics Health Management and Economics Original Research Original Research <p><span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><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">Inflation, delayed insurance reimbursements, demographic aging, and bureaucratic inefficiency drive Iran&#39;s escalating healthcare spending, threatening hospital sustainability and universal health coverage (UHC). This study aims to identify the cost control strategies and to explore the factors that promote and impede their usage.</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 style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Methods: </b>This qualitative descriptive study (January-June 2024) used semi-structured interviews with 80 participants. Thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke&#39;s framework, validated via peer debriefing, member checking, and inter-coder reliability using MAXQDA software.</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 style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Results:</b> Five themes were present: (1) Information Technology and Transparency, (2) Process and Resource Management, (3) Human Resource Management and Organizational Culture, (4) Systematic Approaches and Policy Development, and (5) Overcoming Structural and Economic Barriers. Cross-cutting concerns highlighted the importance of a cost-conscious culture, evidence-driven decision-making, market-oriented strategies, and continuous process monitoring.</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 style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Conclusion:</b> The study outlines 11 strategic areas for Iran&#39;s healthcare, emphasizing digital transformation, workforce management, process optimization, policy reform, and structural adjustments. Findings offer practical guidance for hospital executives and policymakers in resource-constrained systems, applicable globally (e.g., Brazil, India), promoting low-cost improvements without quality compromise.</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 style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</p> Cost Control, Cost Containment, Process Optimization, Workforce Efficiency, Healthcare Finance, Qualitative Research, Cost Management, Hospital, Hospital Information Systems, And Health Policy 1408 1420 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-9754-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Shiva Tolouei‌Rakhshan toloui744822@gmail.com 200319475328460095460 200319475328460095460 No Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Arab arabmoha@tums.ac.ir 200319475328460095461 200319475328460095461 Yes Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AliMohammad Mosadegh Rad mosadeghrad@yahoo.com 200319475328460095462 200319475328460095462 No Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Iraj Harirchi harirchi@tums.ac.ir 200319475328460095463 200319475328460095463 No Medical College, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran