مطالب

Objective : This study examines the challenges and strategic approaches to developing and sustaining medical tourism supply chains (MTSC), particularly in developing countries. Medical tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors within the global tourism industry, generating significant economic impact through the cross-border movement of patients seeking medical care. Despite its growth potential, numerous barriers hinder the effective design and implementation of sustainable MTSCs, especially in emerging economies such as Iran.  Methodology: The study uses the fuzzy Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) to quantify the relative importance of various barriers to MTSC development. Subsequently, the fuzzy Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method is used to prioritize strategic interventions to overcome the identified barriers. This hybrid fuzzy MCDM approach effectively handles the inherent uncertainty and subjectivity in expert evaluations, thereby providing a robust decision-making framework. Results : Findings indicate that among the main barriers, the lack of technological support to facilitate supply chain activities constitutes the most critical hurdle faced by Iran’s medical tourism industry. The limited adoption and implementation of technological innovations restrict efficient coordination, information sharing, and overall supply chain sustainability. In response to these challenges, the study identifies "economic and incentives-based strategies" as the foremost approach for overcoming barriers in MTSCs. This strategy emphasizes the creation of financial incentives, subsidies, and economic policies to encourage innovation, infrastructure development, and enhanced stakeholder collaboration. Conclusion : Policy implications suggest that governments and healthcare providers in developing countries should prioritize investments in technology and infrastructure, alongside devising incentive schemes tailored to the medical tourism sector. Collaboration among various stakeholders—including healthcare institutions, tourism agencies, technology providers, and policymakers—is critical to creating resilient supply chains that can adapt to evolving market demands and global health trends.

This paper revisits the famous 1922 debate between Einstein and Bergson on the nature of time, outlining its central philosophical and scientific points of contention and re-evaluating them in light of developments in quantum physics. Einstein’s conception of time is that of an objective, measurable, and relative dimension within a static four-dimensional “block universe.” In contrast, Bergson conceives of time (durée) as a qualitative, continuous, and creative flow of consciousness that resists reduction to quantitative measurement. The emergence of quantum mechanics, particularly the Heisenberg time–energy uncertainty principle, introduces new complexities that challenge this dichotomy. Quantum features of time, such as intrinsic uncertainty, the indeterminacy of precise moments, and the relational role of the observer, undermine the deterministic framework of classical and relativistic physics and appear, at least superficially, to resonate with Bergson’s critique of spatialized, discrete conceptions of time. However, a closer examination reveals that quantum time remains a quantitative, physical construct distinct from Bergson’s qualitative durée. Drawing upon modern theories such as loop quantum gravity (as articulated by Carlo Rovelli and Lee Smolin) and the insights of contemporary philosophers, this study argues that neither a purely physical nor a purely philosophical approach can, in isolation, account for the multifaceted nature of time. Rather, a comprehensive understanding requires a synthesis of both, recognizing them as complementary perspectives on a single underlying reality.