"Many to many" medical material ordering and distribution planning under health emergencies

Abstract

In recent years, due to the frequent occurrence of health emergencies, it is particularly important to establish an efficient order and distribution network in a short time. To deal with the problem, two models are established and solved by the author to build the framework of the paper. Specifically speaking, SEIR, a population dynamics model, is built to predict the trend of the number of susceptible persons, latent persons, infected persons, and rehabilitated persons over time. Then, the model takes the minimum total cost as the objective function based on the number of infected persons and establishes a many-to-many order and distribution model connecting the hospitals, storage centers, and suppliers. It is to say, any storage center can order medical materials from any supplier and distribute medical materials to any hospital according to the actual situation. Additionally, in the case analysis, the author compares the population changing of the SEIR model and ordering and distribution model based on the model above in two different health emergency scenarios— first outbreak of the epidemic when all sectors of society are unprepared" and "fully prepared". The results show that in different cases, the results of the ordering and distribution model are consistent with the trend of the number of infected people in the SEIR model and the actual situation. It is to say the result has practical significance, so the paper can certainly provide a reference for solving health emergencies.