a comparative study on identifying core stages of policy-making in human resources for health: 2009

health sector can be directed to a great deal of improvements by formulation of proper policies. however, policy making in human resources, the most important resource, was not regarded as much necessary as the health sector. therefore, this study aimed to compare core stages of policy making in human resources for the health sector (hrh). such a research can be considered as an important step for identification of the proper process for policy making in hrh. this study was a descriptive-comparative research. first of all, a discussion group consisting of human resources and health service administration elites were established. this group compared the selected models of policy making through a comparative table and projected core stages. finally, the accuracy of the projected stages was studied by health system elites and university professors using a questionnaire with likert method. using the comparative table, six stages for policy making in hrh were suggested by the discussion group. these stages included issue identification, assessment, policy formulation, implementation, policy evaluation and policy review. somehow most of these stages were partially or completely considered in the studied models. suggested stages were agreed by elites and, the average scores showed. in the end, hrh policy making stages were showed in a model. the six-stage policy making process was confirmed by both the respondent elites and related literature. designing a model to illustrate the details of proper process for policy making can be suggested as an influential step to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health sector in iran.