Introduction: Reorganizing the governmental administrative systems is one of the major policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the recent years, the Iranian Ministry of Health as well as medical science universities has taken various actions approaching improvements in their administrative systems. The study aimed at to determine the level of achievement the goals of administrative reform program among medical universities.

Methods: In this descriptive-analytical, applied and cross-sectional study, group A of type 1 medical universities, including Tehran, Iran, Shaheed Beheshti, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz and Ahwaz Universities were studied to assess their success in targeting administrative system modifications in accordance with the 3rd Economical, Social and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Study period was from March to September 2005. Data sources were the Ministry of Health and the Management and Planning Organizations as well as their affiliated institutions. Actions taken by the universities to implement the modifications were assigned scores and classified into two groups of general and specific. These actions were set up as 182 criteria and analyzed descriptively.

Results: Results obtained showed that average performance score of the studied universities was 75.8%, which confirms a moderate/borderline level of performance. Re-engineering of administrative processes automation and development of organizational structures have the most impact on implementing the general activities reform plan. The general activities reform plan had a better improving effect on the administrative reform plan compared to the specific activities reform plan. Binary comparison of the universities revealed that there is no significant difference between their performances regarding the administrative reform plan. 

Conclusion: Although studied universities were imperfect in achieving to goals of administrative reform plan, their performance look likes to national average performance other governmental organizations. Regards continuation of administrative reform plan in the 4th Economical, Social and Cultural Development Plan, persistent efforts are needed to accomplish objectives defined in the administrative reform plan. Obviously, strong enthusiasms as well as cooperation of the concerned organizations i.e. the Ministry of Health are needed to provide proper resources and facilities for implementing the reform plans. , School of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences