Objectives: The rapid developments in digital technologies in recent decades have led to the reinvention of business processes and models in most service industries. One of the areas that has been deeply affected by these changes is the health tourism industry; an industry that offers a combination of medical, welfare, and technological services in the context of international interactions. Meanwhile, Iran, with its diverse medical capacities, specialized doctors, low treatment costs, and favorable geopolitical location, has a favorable environment for the development of health tourism. Kermanshah province is in a privileged position to attract health tourists due to its common border with Iraq and its cultural, medical, and climatic position. Effective utilization of these potentials requires attention to entrepreneurship in the context of IT; because digital innovations and new communication tools can pave the way for improving the quality of services, attracting international patients, and developing smart infrastructure. The purpose of this research is to explain the dimensions and components of digital entrepreneurship in the health tourism industry of Kermanshah province.

Methods: This study is an applied and qualitative study and is conducted using the GT method. The statistical population included senior managers in the health and tourism fields, health entrepreneurs, IT experts, and policymakers. Sampling was carried out using a purposive and snowball method, and the interview process continued until theoretical saturation was reached, which ultimately resulted in 22 in-depth semi-structured interviews. The data collected through the interviews were analyzed using three stages of open, axial, and selective coding. To increase the validity of the data, triangulation of information sources, participant review, and continuous comparison of data were used.

Results: The final model includes six main categories: Causal conditions: technological changes, regional competition, the need for innovation and pressure for digitalization of services, Contextual conditions: provincial technological infrastructure, institutional policies and the level of access to specialized human capital, Intervening conditions: government support for startups, inter-organizational interaction and legal or cultural restrictions, Central phenomenon: the formation of digital entrepreneurship in health tourism as a regional development strategy, Strategies: the development of health platforms, smart marketing, digital skills training, the expansion of cross-border cooperation and strengthening the connection between the health system and technology, Consequences: increasing the attraction of health tourists, improving the quality of services, improving the provincial brand and developing specialized employment.

Conclusion: Strengthening technological and communication infrastructure, training specialists in the field of health technologies, facilitating the export laws of health services, and supporting digital innovators are among the most important prerequisites for the prosperity of this sector. At the policy level, it is also necessary for relevant agencies to develop coordinated programs to promote the health innovation ecosystem. The findings show that Kermanshah province has an outstanding capacity to become a regional hub of health tourism by utilizing digital entrepreneurship. This research presents a local model for the development of technology-based health-oriented entrepreneurship that ensures competitiveness and added value creation for managers and startups through digital transformation, transparency, and innovation.