Health tourism, also known as medical tourism, refers to traveling to another country or region for the purpose of receiving medical, healthcare, wellness, or therapeutic services. The concept emerged when patients began seeking treatment abroad due to factors such as the lack of required medical facilities in their home countries, long waiting times for treatment, or the high cost of specific medical procedures.
In Iran, health tourism in its modern form first attracted the attention of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2003. A year later, the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization also became involved in this sector. Since then, the first steps toward developing medical tourism in Iran have been taken. Thanks to its significant potential in various areas of health tourism, including medical tourism, wellness tourism, and nature-based therapies, Iran has experienced remarkable growth in recent years and has achieved considerable success in this field.
The most common treatments for which patients travel abroad include cosmetic and plastic surgery, dental services, organ transplantation, cardiac surgery, orthopedic surgery, infertility treatments, ophthalmic surgery, cancer-related treatments, and various types of transplants, including liver transplantation.
However, the scope of health tourism extends far beyond these services. It encompasses a wide range of healthcare and therapeutic options, from advanced medical treatments and specialized procedures to traditional, complementary, and alternative therapies aimed at improving overall health and well-being.
