Tehran University of Medical Sciences Health Technology Assessment in Action 2645-3835 7 2 2023 09 18 179 179 Morteza Arab-Zozani Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Javad Ghoddoosi-Nejad School of Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Carlos Martins Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal 2023 07 16 2023 07 29 Overuse of healthcare services is an increasingly reported issue in health systems worldwide. Given the breadth and importance of the subject, identifying strategies/tools that can prevent medical overuse is beneficial. The authors of this article believe that strategic purchasing because of its high capabilities is one of the tools that can help avoid medical overuse. Also, strategic purchasing and capable government stewardship can lead to the optimal use of resources and the promotion of the right services. In general, and by expressing some of the strategic purchasing features that contrast with the drivers of overuse, it can be concluded that strategic purchasing can be used as a synergistic tool, along with other tools, to prevent and even reduce the overuse of healthcare services. In addition, strategic purchasing and capable government stewardship can lead to the optimal use of resources and the promotion of the right services. https://htainaction.tums.ac.ir/index.php/hta/article/view/179 https://htainaction.tums.ac.ir/index.php/hta/article/download/179/125