Journal of

Background: Recently, the medical tourism is developing more and more over the world. Due to the potential of medical tourism in Iran, this study aimed at identifying medical tourism characteristics in terms of tourist destination and therapeutic centers in Iran.

Materials and Methods: According to literature reviews and experts interviews, components of medical tourists attraction were investigated ana a questionnaire provided. After baseline, items which were not valid and reliable omitted and final questionnaire distributed and completed among experts Such as physicions, academic members, managers and medical staff in eight public and private hospitals in Tehran city.

Results:  Regarding the study results based on the respondance view, the more and the less important components of medical tourist's attraction in Iran included hospital validity, costs, quality of care, hospital staff training, position and political environment, regulatory policy, infrastructure and location of hospital and economic situation. The main problem of medical tourism represented as lack of obvious treatment process and support system. In similar studies, low tretmant costs in destination country was the important motivation of medical travel and factors such as political, economic, regulations and standards and medical centers validity have been addressed to make decisions about the origin country.

Conclusion: This study based on current and priorities assessed the developing dimensions of the medical tourism in macro and micro levels from perspective of medical tourism activists. Medical tourism development requires comprehensive and integrated approach which has been achived using coordinate cooperation, planning and implementation of micro and macro strategies among relevant organizations.