Optimal Site Selection of Health Centers Using Geographical Information System Software in Maragheh, Iran

Medical centers directly affect the health of the individual and the community; quick and inexpensive access to these centers is important and necessary in urban communities. Site selection of health centers is highly important such that it could improve the well-being of residents and their health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the criteria for suitable locations with priority for the construction of new treatment centers in Maragheh, Iran.
This research is a descriptive-analytical study carried out in Maragheh in 2017. The information required in this research has been obtained through library resources, field observations and user maps obtained from the city's municipality. Data analysis was performed using ArcGis and the Expert Choice Analytical Hierarchy Process software programs.
The criterion of proximity to residential centers with a weight of 0.190 and the distance from the existing treatment centers with a weight of 0.150 had the highest effect on the construction of new centers. Also, by overlapping the layers of fifteen criteria, in the end, different zones including very suitable, suitable, relatively suitable, inappropriate and very inappropriate sites were identified for the construction of new treatment centers.
The existing treatment centers in Maragheh were not properly distributed, which could have an important role in the health of the residents of the regions without medical centers. In this regard, the ability of geographical information system (GIS) was determined in selecting a proper site for treatment centers.