Managing medical supply logistics among health workers in Ecuador.
Operations research techniques are being used to solve business and government problems throughout the world. This paper discusses the use of an analytical technique--the location set covering algorithm--to determine placement of medical supply centers in Ecuador. By establishing the optimum location of supply centers it is possible to effectively utilize scarce health care resources in a developing country and to help community level health workers be better prepared to deliver primary health care services.
D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000458:organization & administration; D003906:Developing Countries; D004484:Ecuador; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009874:Operations Research; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012423:Rural Health