Key Factors and Requirements of Medical Centers to Enter the Medical Tourism Industry in Iran

Mehdi  Raadabadi; Hojjat  Rahmani; Seyed Masood  Mousavi; Farhad  Habibi; Sajjad  Bahariniya; Mohammad  Zarezadeh; Marzie  Abdollahzade; Ghasem Rajabi  Vasoukolaei

doi:10.18502/htaa.v9i4.20669

Mehdi Raadabadi Trauma Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Hojjat Rahmani Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Masood Mousavi Health Policy and Management Research Center, Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Farhad Habibi Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Sajjad Bahariniya Department of Healthcare Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Zarezadeh Health Policy and Management Research Center, Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Marzie Abdollahzade BSc in Health Information Technology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ghasem Rajabi Vasoukolaei Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v9i4.20669

Keywords: Medical tourism, Key factors, AHP

Abstract

Background: According to the World Tourism Organization, the tourism sector will significantly influence the global economy and international trade, especially from 2020 to 2030, with medical tourism emerging as the largest and fastest-growing economic sector worldwide. This research focused on pinpointing and ranking essential factors and requirements of medical centers to engage in the Medical Tourism Industry in Iran.

Methods: This study was conducted using a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach. The sample included 40 experts in tourism and medical tourism who were selected purposefully. Data collection was conducted using a researcher-made form and a structured questionnaire for prioritizing. Qualitative content analysis and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) were used to analyze data. The obtained data were analyzed using Expert Choice software version 11.

Results: In the first phase, 210 codes were identified, which were grouped into 6 categories and 40 factors. These categories included policy, economic, information and marketing, human, health infrastructure, and diversity and quality of health services. The greatest weight or priority was related to diversity and quality of health services, with a weight of 0.352, while the lowest weight or priority was related to information and marketing, with a weight of 0.011.

Conclusions: Iran can make its role in this market more prominent by investing as much as possible in its strengths and introducing them as its unique capabilities in providing services. In terms of points that can be corrected, it is possible to achieve the desired result by compiling comprehensive plans, marketing, and modifying some processes.