An Optimization Model for Managing the Drug Logistics Process in a Public Hospital Supply Chain Integrating Physical and Economic Flows

Abstract

The drug purchasing and distribution system is one of the most critical activities within a Hospital Supply Chain (HSC) mainly due to the high costs involved and the required strict medical-administrative controls. An appropriate decision-making process is therefore essential to maximize the performance of the system, guaranteeing a solution that respects medical and administrative restrictions. This paper develops a novel multiperiod approach that provides an alternative framework to determine managerial strategies, integrating financial aspects with logistic decisions in a public HSC. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model addressing the lack of certainty in the data through fuzzy constraints and considering two conflicting objectives: the total cost and the total product shortage. To deal with the multicriteria optimization, the original model is further converted into a fuzzy mixed-integer goal programming (FMIGP) one, that allows inclusion of imprecise aspiration levels for each goal, and its equivalent crisp form permits finding an efficient compromise solution of the problem. An Argentinian public HSC is used to illustrate the proposed approach.

Research on Supply Chain Financial Risk Assessment Based on Blockchain and Fuzzy Neural Networks

“…In recent years, the research and industrial development of blockchain technology has attracted more and more attention from various countries. The blockchain has become an important competitive link in the deployment of the next generation of Internet information technology in various countries [21,22]. As one of the most informatized countries in the world, China, we should seize the opportunity of this information industry revolution in time, increase capital and policy investment, cultivate blockchain talents in enterprises and universities, speed up the construction of blockchain standards, and grasp the right to speak and command heights in the development of the global blockchain [23].…”

Optimization of Inventory Management to Prevent Drug Shortages in the Hospital Supply Chain

“…In line with [22], price variation among the various types of users is considered to be a regular phenomenon owing to its degree of complexity. Thus, it becomes significantly more complicated for policy makers to evaluate and comprehend the supply chain [23]. According to [16], increased discernment of said issues associated with policymakers is considered to play a role in making logical policy decisions for Medicare programs.…”

Supply chain contract selection in the healthcare industry: a hybrid mcdm method in uncertainty environment

“…Supply chain coordination to support chain member strategies and maximize the probable advantage for the supply chain has been the emphasis of much research in the last decade. To achieve coordination, it is possible to use a variety of mechanisms with contracts being one of the most significant (Fan et al, 2019;Kees et al, 2019).…”

“…This comparison is complicated for hospitals. Providing such elements is intricate because some of the drugs and instruments come from foreign countries and if suppliers do not have any precise date, [they frontage to privation of constituents and cannot contentment of their obligations alternatively (Kees et al, 2019). If buyers keep to the strict contract in some crises, they may not have any materials because of the erroneous anticipation.…”