MEDITOUR: A Digital Solution for Medical Tourism in San Miguel, El Salvador

Medical tourism platforms require robust technical implementations that effectively connect healthcare providers with potential patients, while maintaining security and usability standards. This paper presents MEDITOUR, a web platform developed to manage medical tourism in San Miguel, El Salvador. Through literature review, critical requirements were identified including secure communication channels, standardized presentation of services and authentication systems. A mixed methodology was implemented, combining a qualitative focus group of seven multidisciplinary participants with an agile SCRUM development process executed in three strategic sprints. The platform, built on WordPress and HivePress with custom development in PHP, implements role-based authentication, service categorization, provider directory management and bidirectional communication channels. Key technical features include flexible pricing ranges, verified review system and optimized response times. The results demonstrate successful implementation of critical functionalities including user authentication interfaces, comprehensive search capabilities and standardized presentation of services. The development process established direct relationships between identified requirements and technical implementations, addressing stakeholder needs while maintaining international standards. A pilot test with local healthcare providers through the Gerardo Barrios University network is scheduled for 2025, focusing on validating the platform's performance with real data and usage patterns. This research contributes to digital medical tourism by providing an implementation model adaptable to developing markets, particularly emphasizing the integration of local requirements with international standards.