The Influence of National Factors on Transferring and Adopting Telemedicine Technology: Perspectives of Chief Information Officers

Telemedicine In Iran

In Iran, telemedicine has been accepted as a viable alternative to address the inequality of access to health services, especially in rural areas. It is also used to provide medical assistance at circumstances of natural disaster such as earthquake and flood, which are common in the country. Despite the last decade’s efforts of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education to develop e-health platform and infrastructure in Iran, the foundation remains weak and diffusion of telemedicine is low. Past research has highlighted factors such as cost and quality of the telecommunication foundations (Internet, Intranet, space technology, etc.), absence of strict regulations and standards, and lack of reasonable financial supports as important obstacles to effective integration of telemedicine into clinical practice in Iran. Furthermore, researchers have emphasized the essential need for cultural and social programs to raise expert/public understanding of the benefits of such technology (Elahi et al., 2013; Safavi, 2011).