The Evaluation of Financial Performance of Medical Sciences Universities of the Country Based on the Accrual Accounting

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the financial performance of universities of medical sciences in Iran based on the information obtained from accrual accounting. This study is characterized as a descriptive research in which the financial information of 43 universities of medical sciences has been analyzed in 2011 based on reports from accrual accounting system, the indices of resources and consumption at the beginning and end of fiscal year, and the combination of resources and costs of universities. The data used in this study were taken from approval reports of universities of medical sciences which is based on accrual accounting in 2011. The results of the study indicated that almost all universities under investigation entered the fiscal year (2011) with a negative level. In other words, they faced a shortage. However, it should be noted that the number of universities with positive level has increased in the same year. In comparison with the outset of the fiscal year in 2011, the number of universities with positive level has increased at the end of this year. The major source of funding at the medical sciences universities is special resources witch is highly dependent on tariff and cost of services. The larger universities have appropriated larger amount of resources while at the same time they have been incurred less staff expenses.