Integer Programming Optimization-based Simulation in Allocating Medical Doctors in Rural Public Health Facilities in Kenya
Vincent Major Bulinda *
Healthcare Capacity Building for Sustainable Development-Health Informatics Track, University of Nairobi (UON), Kenya and Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science, Kisii University, Kenya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The linear Programming technique is an essential tool in the efficient distribution of physicians within rural public hospitals and is essential for maximizing the use of healthcare resources and enhancing patient access to high-quality treatment. A simulation approach based on integer programming optimization to handle the doctor allocation problem in rural public hospitals in Kenya as a methodology is considered. The objective function, constraints, and decision variables are applied in the allocation strategy that takes into account limitations of physician availability, facility capacity, and patient demand aimed at minimizing patient waiting time. The present study adds to the corpus of knowledge in healthcare operations research by offering significant insights into the optimization of doctor allocation in public hospitals and decision making.
Keywords: Integer programming, decision variables, health system planning, distribution of physicians, rural public hospitals