Introduction: Tariff-setting for healthcare services is a key policy tool in health systems, influencing equity, efficiency, quality, and access to care. This study aimed to calculate the cost of a General Practitioner (GP) visit in Iran in 2024.
Methods: This cross-sectional study employed a bottom-up costing approach. Resources required for providing a GP visit service in private practices were identified and measured using standards and interviews with 20 GPs. These resources were then valued using market prices. Average monthly clinic costs were estimated. The expected monthly income for a GP was estimated using Household Income and Expenditure data. The total expected monthly revenue of the clinic was calculated by summing the clinic costs and the GP's expected income. Finally, the cost per visit was estimated by dividing the total expected monthly revenue by the expected number of monthly visits.
Results: The estimated cost per visit in 2024 was 2,264,281 Rials in Tehran and 1,421,986 Rials for the entire country. The GP's professional fee constituted approximately 50% of the total cost. Clinic overhead costs accounted for about 40%, and income tax accounted for 9-10% of the total expected clinic revenue.
Conclusion: A gap exists between the current official tariff and the actual cost of a GP visit. This gap can negatively affect physicians' motivation, access to services, and the quality of care provided. The findings of this study can provide a scientific basis for establishing equitable and evidence-based service tariffs.