Bita Mesgarpour
1 
, Sara Aghababa
1 , Hamid Reza Baradaran
2 , Payam Kabiri
3 , Ali Kabir
4 , Ahmad SofiMahmudi
1 , Ali Akbar Haghdoost
5* 1 Cochrane Iran Associate Centre, National Institute for Medical research Development (NIMAD), Tehran, Iran.
2 Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4 Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
5 Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Abstract
Healthcare decision-making is a process that mainly depends on evidence and involves increasing numbers of stakeholders, including the consumers. Cochrane evidence responds to this challenge by identifying, appraising, integrating and synthesizing high-quality evidence. Recently, a collaborative effort has been initiated in Iran with Cochrane to establish a representative local entity. A variety of multifaceted interventions were conducted according to Cochrane’s strategy to 2020, such as producing evidence, making Cochrane evidence accessible, advocating for evidence and building an effective and sustainable organization. In this report, the authors present the two and half year performance and achievements of Cochrane Iran based on a comprehensive and systematic approach. This case might be an example of health diplomacy, which is initiated by a successful international collaboration and proceed with recognizing the importance of adherence to the strategic action plans and goals.