Evidence Based Health Policy, Management & Economics

en Spatial Analysis of Access to Pharmacies and Medical Diagnostic Laboratories Using Geographic Information System (GIS): A Case Study of Yazd City Healt care Management پژوهشي Original article <div style="text-align: justify;">Introduction: The unequal spatial distribution of healthcare services, such as pharmacies and diagnostic laboratories, is a major challenge in developing countries, leading to inequitable access. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of these facilities in Yazd City using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to assess accessibility and equity. Materials and Methods: This descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. Data on the locations of pharmacies, medical diagnostic laboratories, and population distribution in Yazd were collected and mapped using ArcGIS software. Standards and indicators were identified through document review, and data were analyzed using GIS models, including Hot Spot Analysis, Thiessen Polygon, Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA), and Nearest Neighbor Distance (NND). Results: The standard radius for medical laboratories is 700 meters and the accessibility score varies from 0 to 0.049. For pharmacies, the standard is one pharmacy per 7,000 people and the walking distance limit is 500 meters, with accessibility scores ranging from 0 to 1.47, indicating a slight difference in accessibility between the two uses. In fact, among the 57 diagnostic laboratories, the highest concentration was found in the historic district, which had a relatively low population density, indicating a random distribution. Pharmacies were mainly concentrated in District 2 and the historic districts. While the distribution in District 2 corresponded to population density, the historic district showed an oversupply of drugs relative to its population. Conclusion: Access to health facilities in Yazd is spatially uneven. In order to promote social justice and improve the quality of life, urban planning should consider population distribution to promote equitable access and social justice in urban environments.</div> Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Geographic Information System (GIS), Accessibility, Pharmacy 152 163 http://jebhpme.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-241-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Elham Safi Najaf Abadi e.safi16@gmail.com No Department of Health Policy & Management, School of Management & Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Mostafa Amirfakhriyan amirfakhriyan@yahoo.com No Department of Geography, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Hossein Ameri hamery7@yahoo.com No Department of Health Policy & Management Research Center, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Mohammad Ranjbar ranjbar3079@gmail.com Yes Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran