This guidance article has presented a new Flexible (and Fuzzy) Goal Programming (FGP) model built for multiple criteria decision-making for allocating resources in healthcare. The combination of fuzzy logic flexibility with the structure of goal programming has potential to better manage conflicting and uncertain objectives, such as reducing cost when improving quality of service and fair distribution. A case study illustrates the allocation of ICU beds, ventilators, and staff at five regional hospitals, the application of FGP in this case study illustrates that an optimal solution is achieved while mitigating the importance of the goals aligned with the different stakeholders in the resource allocation process. Analysis shows that plans with the FGP can achieve balanced compromises between conflicting goals while satisfying operational constraints and aspirations. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the FGP retains stability, sensitivity, and reliability throughout its planning process. This research brings a solid, flexible, relatively easy to use decision support tool that is broadly applicable to any features of a decision-making.
Keywords
Fuzzy Goal ProgrammingMulti-Criteria Decision MakingHealthcare Resource AllocationUncertainty ModellingOptimization Under Uncertainty.
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