Designing an efficient blood network using a multi-objective optimization model under uncertainty

Iran's healthcare system has seen an increase in awareness of sustainability and efficiency improvement during the past ten years. In the blood network, one of the most significant parts of healthcare systems, achieving an effective network design mechanism is essential for enhancing the performance of healthcare services. Therefore, in this study, a robust optimization model for designing an efficient blood network is developed. The proposed model is multi-objective, with objective functions including the efficiency of collectors, producers, and distributors, as well as cost reduction. To evaluate the efficiency of the network facilities, a data envelopment analysis has been embedded within the mathematical model. A real-world case study in Babol city is used to validate the proposed model.

Keywords:

Healthcare management , Blood supply chain , Efficiency , Robust optimization , Multi-objective optimization , Data envelopment analysis