Drivers of vulnerability to medicine smuggling and combat strategies: a qualitative study based on online news media analysis in Iran.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Medicine smuggling poses a serious public health threat, limiting patients' safe and timely access to this essential resource. Thus, this study aims to identify the factors contributing to the vulnerability to medicine smuggling and propose effective strategies to combat this issue in Iran.

Methods

An analysis of news media was conducted using qualitative content analysis. News text items related to medicine smuggling were retrieved from various online news sources between March 21, 2017, and May 21, 2023. To select health-oriented and general online news stations, news agencies, and newspapers, the purposeful sampling method with a maximum variation strategy was used. The selected sources included Mehr News Agency, Khabar Online, Islamic Consultative Assembly New

SUBMITTER: Fakhrzad N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10976728 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature