Bicriteria efficiency/equity hierarchical location models for public service application

Abstract

As is often the case in healthcare provision, public services may offer facilities at a hierarchy of levels in different locations, ranging from basic to specialised levels of care. In addition to efficiency objectives, with public services there is the concern of equity of provision when locating new facilities. We present, as a tool-kit for decision makers, a range of discrete hierarchical location models with bicriteria efficiency/equity objectives. These models are for use in location of facilities within hierarchical systems where a fair but efficient hierarchical service is sought. The hierarchical models have as efficiency criteria both p-median and maximal-covering types. These components are combined in a novel manner with appropriate equity objectives to give decision makers a range of choices of scenarios. We illustrate use of the models in a healthcare setting.