BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Health care systems are constantly reforming in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness, equity, and public access to health care services. Family physicians and rural health insurance program performed in 2005 with the following objectives: strengthening the referral system, increasing access to health care services and reducing unnecessary costs in all urban and rural areas with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants in Iran. This study was designed to recognize the achievements and challenges of the implementation of family physicians programs.

METHODS: The present review article was conducted using the databases: Pub Med, Google scholar, Google, SID, Iranmedex, Magiran with Keywords such as family physicians, rural insurance, health center, health systems, health services, family physician satisfaction and patient satisfaction that 68 articles related to the objective of study were extracted and assessed.

FINDINGS: The related studies in Iran showed that health indices, further access to health services, reduction of unnecessary costs, and patient satisfaction have been improved by implementing the family physician program. But in spite of mentioned successes, there are some problems in referral system, filing and registration of diagnostic and treatment services and practice in culture in society that should be promoted.

CONCLUSION: This study showed that some of the goals of this program were achieved and to reach the other goals need interventions at the national and regional levels.