Geography

Geography

A mixed study of medical tourism development with emphasis on the mediation role of telemedicine (Case study: Tehran)

Document Type : Articles extracted from Thesis

Authors
Sayed eskandar seidaiy 1
Sayedeh Somaeh Hosseini 2
Yasaman Tamizi 3
1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University, of Isfahan, Isfahan Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University, of Isfahan, Isfahan Iran.
3 MSc of Tourism.Geography and Planning.Isfahan.Isfahan.Iran
10.22034/jiga.2025.2073231.1449
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Today, health tourism is one of the growing sectors of the world's tourism industry, which has led organizations and countries active and interested in tourism development to pay attention to this sector of the tourism industry and plan for it. Telemedicine, a term that combines the words "tele" meaning distance and "medicine," refers to the provision of healthcare services and the exchange of medical information remotely using telecommunications technology. The advancement of health technologies plays a decisive role in the development of health tourism. For example, medical technologies that were previously only used in sports medicine are now also offered in the treatment of ordinary patients, the development of health tourism and the promotion of healthy living. Iran, considering its advantages and capabilities in medical tourism, including low cost and unparalleled quality of medical services, is determined to take advantage of the existing opportunities. On the other hand, it faces fundamental challenges in exploiting its capabilities in this field. The main goal of this research is to investigate and identify strategies for developing medical tourism in Tehran using telemedicine.
 
Methodology
This research is applied-developmental in terms of purpose and library, survey, descriptive and analytical in nature. The statistical population of the research includes (experts, professors and specialists in the field of health tourism). The sample size was snowballed. A quantitative approach was used using multi-criteria techniques to weight and rank the identified indicators and sub-indicators. And using the determined indicators and strategic planning techniques, the most important strategies affecting the development of remote services in line with the development of Tehran's medical tourism have been evaluated.
 
Results and Discussion
Data analysis: First, using a questionnaire and interviews, telemedicine indicators in medical tourism in Greater Tehran were identified and specified by experts and specialists in the field of health tourism, and were placed in the form of eight indicators and 64 sub-indicators. Also, the fuzzy DEMATEL method was used to examine the effectiveness and impact of the indicators on each other. And the AHP and ANP methods were used to prioritize and rank the indicators, which showed that the quality of information and communication indicators have the highest priority. And the indicators of creating digital infrastructure, adopting technology and creating and managing information systems, telemedicine education, advertising and marketing, using digital infrastructure, business management, and teleservices are the next priorities, respectively.
 
Conclusion
According to the results of the techniques, suggestions were presented in different time frames, the most important of which are, Strengthening communication infrastructure to build trust among foreign patients and speed up services, establish international scientific collaborations, and promote Tehran's brand as a regional medical hub, Designing skills courses and workshops to familiarize medical staff with telemedicine technologies.
 
Keywords
Medical tourism
telemedicine
Strategic model
Tehran

Subjects

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Geography
Volume 23, Issue 87
Winter 2026, pp.1-200.
Winter 2026
Pages 27-44