Urban policymaking for managing the social and economic consequences of metaverse in the health sector of Tehran
Subject Areas : socialismshahla akvi ohasel 1 , Bahram Ghadimi 2 , seyed Majid Amirfakhrian 3 , Najla Hariri 4
1 - Department of Sociology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Sociology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Mathematics, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Department of Information Science and Epistemology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords: Metaverse, Policymaking, Urban Development, Health,
Abstract :
This study examines urban policymaking to manage the social and economic consequences of the metaverse in the health sector in Tehran. Using a mixed approach including semi-structured interviews with 45 urban planners, health policymakers, and metaverse technology experts (January 2014 to June 2015), data analysis of 1,200 health service users, and economic modeling with Python, the findings highlight the potential and challenges of the metaverse in Tehran, a metropolis with a population of 9 million and a strained health system. From a social perspective, the metaverse improves access to health services in deprived areas such as District 22, with 68% of users aged 25 to 45 satisfied with telemedicine, but the digital divide (42% access for low-income households) and gender barriers (22% lower acceptance among women) exacerbate inequalities. Economically, simulations predict a 15–20% reduction in hospital costs by 2020 and the creation of 8,000–10,000 jobs in metaverse health technology, but the initial cost of 2.5 trillion rials and the lack of regulatory tariffs pose serious challenges. In the health sector, metaverses show promise, with 28% improvements in epidemic contact tracing and 32% in medication adherence among the elderly, but cyber risks and foreign platform monopolies require regulation. Policy recommendations include device trust programs, multilingual platforms, public–private partnerships, and the establishment of a Tehran Metaverse Health Authority to ensure digital inclusion and economic sustainability. The study emphasizes the need for phased policies to manage inequalities and strengthen Tehran as a regional digital health hub, and provides a foundation for future research on the long-term effects of metaverses on urban health.
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