A Heuristic for a Mixed Integer Program using the Characteristic Equation Approach

Universal health care aims at providing low cost or if possible free primary care to everyone. Most countries pursue this goal and it is pertinent for developing countries to make the best use of their limited resources to achieve it. In spite of every effort from the government, unfortunately patients in India spend significant amount of money on travelling and out-of-pocket expenses for availing primary care services even at public funded facilities. We propose an optimization model to help health decision makers in managing existing capacity for alleviation of this problem. The model can be used in the identification of existing health care facilities that need to be upgraded or reduced with a view to improve their utilization at minimum cost. The model recognizes increase in patient out-of-pocket expenses incurred at facilities due to longer waiting time (congestion). Results from numerical experiments are presented to explicate the functioning of the model.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal Capacity Allocation when Patients encounter Congestion in Primary Healthcare Network

Kumar¹

2019

“…(e) Apply the ideas developed in this paper to solve a conventional integer and mix integer programming model discussed in Kumar and Munapo (2012), Nyamugure et al (2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Hybrid Strategy for Reducing Feasible Convex Space and the Number of Variables for Solving a Conventional Large LP Model

Kumar¹,

Munapo²,

Lesaoana³

et al. 2017

Self Cite

“…Using the CE approach, Al-Rabeeah et al ( 2019) obtained a non-dominated point set for a bi-objective linear integer problem, and Al-Hasani et al (2020) developed a rank-based solution method for finding a non-dominated point set of a given multiobjective integer program. Nyamugure et al (2017) applied the CE concept for a mixed integer program and Kumar et al (2009) solved a binary integer program using the CE approach.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Insight into the Characteristic Equation for an Integer Program

Kumar

Munapo

Nyamugure

2021

Self Cite

This article enhances properties and applications associated with the characteristic equation (CE) developed to find an optimal and other ranked-optimal solutions of linear integer programming model. These enhanced properties have applications in the analysis of the multi-objective linear integer programs. The paper also identifies why the CE approach is not possible for some special linear programming (LP) models and creates a challenge for further investigation.