Budget Allocation Research Articles

Strategic Management Practices and Accessibility of Non-Governmental Organizations to Donor Funding in Turkana County, Kenya

Non-governmental organizations exist in international development to offer services to vulnerable persons and communities, and as policy advocate’s campaigners. The contemporary environment in which non-governmental organizations operate is increasingly becoming uncertain and unpredictable, with an increased inability to meet budget allocation due to inadequate funds. This study examined strategic management practices and accessibility of non-governmental organizations’ to donor funding in Turkana County, Kenya. The study specifically examined the influence of strategy implementation and strategy evaluation and accessibility of non-governmental organizations’ donor funding in Turkana County, Kenya. The study was grounded on theories that included: Strategic fit theory and Resource dependency theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Respondents were selected using stratified random sampling. The study targeted the low-level, middle-level and senior managers of the 30 non-governmental organizations operating in Turkana County. The research relied on structured questionnaires in the data collection process. Inferential statistics and descriptive statistics were utilized in data analysis. The study also relied on frequencies, mean and standard deviation in presenting descriptive results. The inferential statistics used were correlation analysis, regression analysis and analysis of variances. The findings of the study revealed a statistically significant regression effect and indicative of accomplished prediction of accessibility of Non-governmental organizations to donor funding through the F-calculated value which showed that the model was significant. Strategy implementation explained 49.1%, and strategy evaluation 44.3% the variations in accessibility of Non-governmental organizations to donor funding in Turkana County, Kenya. The study recommended for further research work to be conducted to review the influence of other variables on accessibility of non-governmental organizations to donor funding in Turkana county and other counties in Kenya. Keywords: Strategy implementation, Strategy Evaluation, Accessibility of NGO’s to Donor Funding

Head teachers’ pedagogical leadership strategies in supporting children’s transition from pre-primary to primary school in Tanzania

This study explored strategies to support children's transition from pre-primary to primary school. It employed a case study design, and semi-structured interviews were administered to nine head teachers and nine pre-primary school teachers from nine public primary schools in Mpwapwa and Chemba District, Tanzania. The collected data were subjected to content analysis. The study’s findings revealed that the provision of teaching and learning resources, stakeholder or community engagement, teacher motivation, a supportive school culture, and learning follow-up are essential pedagogical leadership strategies employed by head teachers to support children's transition from pre-primary to primary school. The study recommends the implementation of pre-headship training programmes and in-service training on Early Childhood Education (ECE) management for head teachers, as well as the provision of increased budgetary allocations for pre-primary education. Since this study was conducted in the pre-primary educational aspect, the study also recommends conducting further research on other aspects of school readiness in an attempt to enable children to easily navigate the transition process into the education system.

Five Years of National Health Policy in India: Critical Analysis of the Public Health Expenditure from 2017 to 2022 and Way Forward

This retrospective study assesses the impact of India’s National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 on public health expenditure and its implications for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3). Using secondary data analysis from government sources, we observed health budget trends relative to GDP from 2017 to 2022. The study found a marginal increase in public health expenditure from 0.9% to 1.6% of GDP, which is below the NHP’s target of 2.5%. The results underscore the challenge of high out-of-pocket expenses, which remain a barrier to UHC. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the inadequacies of the current funding levels. We conclude that a substantial increase in health budget allocations is crucial for India to make significant strides toward UHC and meet SDG-3 targets. The study also calls for strategic enhancements in healthcare infrastructure and services to address the persistent gaps in healthcare delivery and financing. The findings advocate for a more aggressive approach to public health investment to ensure that quality healthcare services are accessible, affordable, and equitable for all citizens, thereby advancing India’s progress toward comprehensive health coverage.

The costs of open access publication

This article explores the financial dynamics of open access (OA) publication in Catalan universities by combining four data sources: publication data coupled with article processing charge (APC) estimates; information on journal subscriptions, transformative agreements and APC payments made by universities; acknowledgements of APC funding sources in OA scholarly outputs; and a survey of authors. The findings reveal a consistent increase in OA publication across Catalan universities, with 60% of the articles indexed in the Web of Science being published in either gold or hybrid OA in 2022. In parallel, investment in the research publishing system shows an upward trend. Resources allocated to journal subscription licenses have been redirected towards transformative agreements, leading to a rise in hybrid OA publications. Additional budget allocations have been made to accommodate APCs for gold OA journals. Authors employ varied funding sources for gold and hybrid OA, with university funding programmes and research grants commonly facilitating gold OA, while transformative agreements often support hybrid OA. Authors associated with Catalan universities frequently benefit from funding schemes and transformative agreements that are accessible to their coauthors. However, survey responses underscore the multifaceted nature of researchers’ financial support, including personal assets and waivers. Authors express frustration with the evolving OA landscape, particularly concerning the exorbitant publication fees. Nevertheless, the allure of high-impact journals and expedited peer review processes continues to incentivize authors towards gold OA. Researchers voice concerns regarding the lack of equitable funding programmes and potential conflicts of interest within gold OA models, which signals the risk of compromising peer review integrity to prioritize profits. This study underscores the need for further research to deepen our understanding of scholarly publishing expenditure and inform strategies for fostering a sustainable, equitable OA ecosystem.

Framework for responsive financing of district hospitals of India.

The current financing of public-sector district hospitals in India relies on historical budget allocations rather than actual utilization or healthcare needs. We utilized empirical data on healthcare delivery costs to develop the financing framework for these hospitals using a blended payment approach. The primary data on cost of delivering services in 27 district hospitals across nine states of India was analysed along with indicators influencing the demand and supply of health services. Payment for outpatient, inpatient, and indirect services was assessed using the risk adjusted global budget, case-based bundled payment, and per-bed-global budget, respectively. Risk adjustment weights were computed by regressing the cost of outpatient care with demand and supply side factors which are likely to influence the utilization or the prices. Budget impact analysis was conducted to assess the fiscal implications of this payment approach, accounting for current care standards and two scenarios: upgrading district hospitals to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) or medical colleges. The average annual budget for a district hospital in India is estimated at ₹326 million (US$3.35 million), ranging from ₹66 million to ₹2.57 billion (US$0.8-31.13 million). Inpatient care comprises the largest portion (78%) of the budget. Upgrading to IPHS-compliant secondary hospitals or medical colleges would increase average budgets by 131 and 91.5%, respectively. Implementing a blended payment approach would align funding with healthcare needs, enhance provider performance, and support ongoing financing reforms aimed at strategic purchasing and universal health coverage.

Budget Politics of Aceh Province’s Special Autonomy Fund for Poverty Alleviation

Fifteen years into the implementation of Aceh’s special autonomy, poverty still ranks Aceh the poorest province on the island of Sumatra. The high number and percentage of poverty are due to the budget allocation of the Special Autonomy Fund being allocated to other issues; the allocation of the Poverty Alleviation Special Autonomy Fund over the last five years has not been a priority in the development program in Aceh Province, poverty alleviation being the fourth priority after infrastructure, education and health. This research seeks to discover the factors that become obstacles and ineffectiveness of the Special Autonomy Fund Budget Politics in Poverty Alleviation in Aceh Province. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study as a research strategy. This research uses three data collection techniques: First, documentation in the form of policy documents, papers, journals, or books from previous research. Second, in-depth interviews. Third, observation. Data analysis techniques used in qualitative research include transcribing interview results, data reduction, data analysis and interpretation. Aceh’s failed poverty alleviation was caused by the government’s failure to address its poverty. Factors contributing to poverty in Aceh’s poverty reduction include lack of poverty-related employment, inadequate government support, insufficient infrastructure and income related to prosperity, low human resource income, insufficient political participation, and corruption.

The factors influencing waste management for economic development—the perspective of Nelson Mandela bay municipality residents

The rapid increase in volume and variety of solid waste as a result of continuous economic growth, urbanization, and industrialization has become an intractable problem for the public and private sectors, making it difficult to ensure effective and sustainable waste management. The study sought to understand the perspective of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal residents on their perceived influence of municipal waste management on economic development. The study used a quantitative techniques approach, with a structured questionnaire. Data was collected from 255 respondents. The quantitative question aimed to determine if the influence was positive or negative, and the Likert scale question had a scale of 1 to 5. This research identified various types of waste, assessed challenges, and evaluated waste's potential for resource creation. The study concluded that municipal waste includes organic, paper, plastic, metal, glass, food, garden, hazardous, construction, demolition, and non-recyclable waste. Environmental pollution is a major challenge, and 26 factors positively influence waste to wealth. Waste to wealth can be achieved through social behavior, education/knowledge, MSWM governance, and economic feasibility for MSWM. The research also highlighted the importance of land attributes, budget allocation, trained personnel, and government regulations. The framework proposed aims to minimize urban poverty while preserving the environment and supporting the present urban economy. Urban communities can utilize solid waste management as a mechanism to foster economic development. The fundamental question is whether stakeholders will continue to ignore waste's potential demands and benefits for urban economic growth.

Health outcome convergence and the roles of public health financing and governance in Africa.

Progress in health outcomes across Africa has been uneven, marked by significant disparities among countries, which not only challenges the global health security but impede progress towards achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 10 (SDG 3 and SDG 10) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This paper examines the progress of African countries in reducing intra-country health outcome disparities between 2000 and 2019. In other words, the paper investigates the convergence hypothesis in health outcome using a panel data from 40 African countries. Data were sourced from the World Development Indicators, the World Governance Indicators, and the World Health Organization database. Employing a non-linear dynamic factor model, the study focused on three health outcomes: infant mortality rate, under-5 mortality rate, and life expectancy at birth. The findings indicate that while the hypothesis of convergence is not supported for the selected countries, evidence of convergence clubs is observed for the three health outcome variables. The paper further examine the factors contributing to club formation by using the marginal effects of the ordered logit regression model. The findings indicate that the overall impact of the control variables aligns with existing research. Moreover, governance quality and domestic government health expenditure emerge as significant determinants influencing the probability of membership in specific clubs for the child mortality rate models. In the life expectancy model, governance quality significantly drives club formation. The results suggest that there is a need for common health policies for the different convergence clubs, while country-specific policies should be implemented for the divergent countries. For instance, policies and strategies promoting health prioritization in national budget allocation and reallocation should be encouraged within each final club. Efforts to promote good governance policies by emphasizing anti-corruption measures and government effectiveness should also be encouraged. Moreover, there is a need to implement regional monitoring mechanisms to ensure progress in meeting health commitments, while prioritizing urbanization plans in countries with poorer health outcomes to enhance sanitation access.

Protecting Infinite Data Streams from Wearable Devices with Local Differential Privacy Techniques

The real-time data collected by wearable devices enables personalized health management and supports public health monitoring. However, sharing these data with third-party organizations introduces significant privacy risks. As a result, protecting and securely sharing wearable device data has become a critical concern. This paper proposes a local differential privacy-preserving algorithm designed for continuous data streams generated by wearable devices. Initially, the data stream is sampled at key points to avoid prematurely exhausting the privacy budget. Then, an adaptive allocation of the privacy budget at these points enhances privacy protection for sensitive data. Additionally, the optimized square wave (SW) mechanism introduces perturbations to the sampled points. Afterward, the Kalman filter algorithm is applied to maintain data flow patterns and reduce prediction errors. Experimental validation using two real datasets demonstrates that, under comparable conditions, this approach provides higher data availability than existing privacy protection methods for continuous data streams.

Evaluating the Economic Impact of Marijuana Legalization: A Difference-in-Differences and Regression Analysis of Household Expenditures in Colorado and Utah

The legalization of marijuana in Colorado in 2014 marked a significant policy shift with potential economic implications. This study examines the impact of this legalization on household expenditures using Utah as a control group. The research employs a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) methodology, analyzing data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX) from 2012 to 2016. The findings indicate a significant increase in household expenditures in Colorado relative to Utah following marijuana legalization. The DiD estimate reveals an approximate increase of $898 in total household expenditures post-legalization. These results are supported by regression models that account for various household characteristics, ensuring robustness. In conclusion, marijuana legalization in Colorado has led to a measurable increase in household spending. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and contributes to the understanding of the economic effects of marijuana policy changes. For household departments, it's essential to consider the potential shifts in budget allocation due to increased discretionary spending. Government agencies should monitor these economic impacts closely to inform future regulatory decisions and ensure balanced economic growth.

How to optimize government R&D budget allocation? A review of recent studies and research gaps

Purpose Research and Development (R&D) activities are important for technological innovation and present opportunities for entrepreneurship. These activities depend on the flow of funding. This paper aims to review approaches used in R&D project selection and budget allocation. Design/methodology/approach This study conducts a systematic review, examining the content of 60 relevant papers (spanning 2000–2022) concerning public R&D budget allocation. The analysis focuses on allocation methodology, R&D output evaluation, budget allocation efficiency and the management of uncertainty in the allocation process. Findings The systematic review reveals different methods proposed for allocating government R&D budgets. These methods range from classical optimization, multi-criteria analysis and hierarchical analysis to techniques such as balanced scorecard, data envelopment analysis and analytic hierarchy process, including fuzzy approaches. Recent trends indicate an increase in the use of advanced optimization, integration and simulation algorithms. Performance indicators for reflecting R&D project outputs or goals can be categorized into four main groups: output (e.g. publications, patents, graduates), outcome, productivity (e.g. citations, patent references, articles and patents per capita) and sector-specific metrics. Practical implications Future research directions in government R&D budget allocation may include optimizing allocation to maximize social, economic and political benefits, developing ranking models, decision-making frameworks, simulations and evaluations of factors influencing allocation type and strategy. Additionally, there is a growing interest in novel budget allocation algorithms leveraging artificial intelligence and self-adjusting meta-heuristic algorithms. Originality/value The systematic review showed that some important research gaps in (government) R&D budget allocation could be considered in future studies; for example, long-term social, economic and political benefits in budget allocation optimization models, comprehensiveness of allocating government R&D budgets to universities, higher education and research institutes, R&D budget allocation to strategic technology development, e.g. renewable energy sector, supply chain issues and renewable energy value chain; new budget allocation algorithms based on artificial intelligence and self-adjusting meta-heuristic algorithms; methods for optimizing the structures of government budget allocation to R&D, considering executive and regulatory conflicts.

ANALYSIS OF ECOTOURISM AND DISASTER MITIGATION DATA AT THE KUALA LANGSA MANGROVE FOREST BY USING THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS

The problem in the management of a public area is to determine aspects that contribute most as its best practices. This paper explores the contributions of the Kuala Langsa Mangrove Forest located in Langsa City, Aceh Province, for ecotourism and disaster mitigation. This research was intended to analyze the aspects of forest management that has successfully reformed dry coast into an ecotourism site. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a multicriteria decision making method was used to analyze the best indicators data. This method was selected as the suitable method since it utilizes the objectivity of mathematics in comparing some subjective criteria to obtain the best indicators. The implementation of the AHP method consists of three stages: the development of the criteria’s hierarchy table; the development of pairwise matrix related to the intention of giving weights for the criterion’s elements; the logical concistency verification of the matrix. Indicators were written on a five point scale related to a value judgement. The results of the research show that as an ecotourism site, the activities of the mangrove forest are motivated and based on the existing rules which attract people to become interested. The role of the local government has resulted: developed the programs according to the existing mangrove management law that reached 67% among other law related indicators; budget allocation priority by self-generating which get priority of 59% among budget indicators; oriented on the increasing of fishermen, obtained 49% of economical function elements; encouraged the involvement and partnership of the local resources around the mangrove forest which reached 31% among other programs offered and sustainability approach by considering ecological functions aspect. For physical contribution for disaster mitigation, the largest dissipation is given by Rhizophora mucronata due to its height compared to the other types.

Public spending on Energy innovations and CO2 impacts: Evidence from selected OECD countries

The relationship between public spending on Energy innovations (R&D of renewable and non-renewable energy, and energy efficiency) and CO2 intensity at constant purchasing power are investigated in this study. A Panel-NARDL model was used for the first time in 10 OECD countries (1990–2020) to evaluate the asymmetric relationship between energy innovative variables and CO2 impacts in the long and short run. In other words, this study aims to monitor how changes in public spending on R&D for renewable and non-renewable influence CO2 emissions. The results show that while an increase in the public budget for R&D of renewable energy will decrease the CO2 intensity in the long run, a positive relationship exists between these variables in the short run. Likewise, the result demonstrates that a cut in public spending on Fossil fuel R&D leads to an increase in the short horizon and a decrease in the long-run CO2 emissions per unit of GDP. The finding implies the substantial impact of R&D in both renewable and non-renewable energy on reducing CO2 emissions over time. In addition, CO2 emissions per unit of GDP respond positively to R&D public spending on energy efficiency. An increase in public expenditure on R&D of energy efficiency can induce economic activity and enhance CO2 emissions. All in all, the 30 years’ analysis of data from the selected OECD countries substantiates the right strategy of reducing the CO2 emissions of these countries by applying the public budget to promote R&D in energy sectors. This study results in contrast with those studies that found no relationship between R&D on renewable energy and CO2 impacts. Significance Statement This paper evaluated the asymmetric impacts of public spending on R&D of renewable energy and fossil fuel, and energy efficiency on CO2 intensity at constant purchasing power. Although a growing body of research has analyzed the impact of R&D on CO2 emission, research on the asymmetric effects of R&D public expenditure in energy sectors on CO2 emission is still narrow. Moreover, by employing Panel Nonlinear ARDL, we delve into the spillover impacts of selected OECD public budget on R&D over the short and long horizons. In addition, we estimate the impacts of both Renewable and non-renewable R&D budgets which help us to explore and compare the effectiveness of budget allocation on R&D with the strategy of reducing CO2 emission. Finally, this study found how the R&D and technology budget surging and declining in energy sectors would influence CO2 emission per unit of GDP.

Pengaruh Penganggaran Berbasis Kinerja Terhadap Kenaikan Tunjangan Kinerja Bawaslu Dalam Perspektif Hukum Keuangan Negara

This research explores the impact of performance-based budgeting on the increase in the performance allowance of Indonesia's Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) from the perspective of state financial law. This research examines how performance-based budgeting, which emphasises efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability, affects financial management and justifies the increase in allowances. By analysing the legal framework, empirical data, and performance metrics, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the alignment between budget allocations and performance outcomes in Bawaslu. The method used is normative research with primary, secondary and tertiary legal materials. The data generated from legal materials are described to find objective results. The results of this study The use of a performance-based budgeting system (ABK) by Bawaslu has influenced the policy of increasing performance allowances. Bawaslu's performance measurement refers to the principles of state finance, including efficiency, economic effectiveness, accountability, responsibility, professionalism, proportionality, and openness. The increase in Bawaslu's performance allowance is in accordance with the performance improvement that has been evaluated by Menpan RB, which is the institution responsible for bureaucratic reform.

Core Mechanisms in Mediating eHealth Implementation and Uptake: A Case Study of Eastern Uganda

Researchers agree that, globally, in both developing and developed countries, healthcare management is faced with acute challenges: expanding areas of health needs, operationalizing health management, constrained budget allocations, as well as resource limitations. Hence, there is an imminent drive to find solutions to stimulate health system transformation through health system innovation. Therefore, effective national operational strategies to minimize resource wastage and contain the costs of health service delivery are critical. The study adopted a methodology that incorporated different research approaches and strategies. Deductive and inductive approaches were used; the strategies were surveys and case studies. A sample of 178 health professionals and administrators in three Health care facilities in Eastern Uganda, were determined and surveyed. Eligible respondents were stratified and selected through simple random sampling. Self-administered questionnaires and interview guides were used to gather the data. The captured data was analysed using Stata version 17. Regression analysis was used to determine the impact of eHealth Implementation core mechanisms on Quality Health Service Delivery. From the results of regression analysis, the core mechanisms variable had a p-value of 0.049 which was significant. For eHealth Implementation Core Mechanisms, the respondents have less control over them since they are dependent on several environmental factors, such as government funding or grants, Government regulations, and policies among others.

Manajemen Keuangan Sekolah dalam Pemenuhan Sarana Prasarana Pendidikan

Research to analyze and gain insights into the financial management of Public Middle School 22 Sijunjung, West Sumatra, in meeting the educational infrastructure needs. A qualitative approach using phenomenology was employed. Informants included the school principal, secretary, and treasurer. Data collection involved interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis. Data analysis included data condensation, presentation, and conclusion drawing. This study shows that the financial management of the school to meet educational infrastructure needs encompasses school budgeting, budget allocation, financial recording, and financial accountability. This study highlights the importance of financial management in providing educational facilities and infrastructure by involving internal and external stakeholders in the evaluation, analysis, monitoring, and fulfilling various school needs.

Improving the organization of medical care for patients in the specialty of medical rehabilitation in the Tomsk oblast

More than a third of the total population of the planet needs medical rehabilitation and the need will increase in the future. The prospective increase in life expectancy by the middle of the 21st century will be accompanied by an increase in the share of malignant neoplasms and diseases of the circulatory system in the morbidity structure, and the level of injuries will remain unchanged. These factors will negatively affect a person’s functional capabilities and will contribute to an increase in disability, increasing the relevance of medical rehabilitation. In Russia, according to the current procedure, there is a three-stage organization of medical rehabilitation. The implementation of these stages is carried out within the regional territorial programs of state guarantees (TPSG) of free medical care to citizens, which limits the financial accessibility of the completed cycle of medical rehabilitation for patients, due to budgetary allocations and the compulsory health insurance program, negatively affecting the quality of care provided. The article assesses the volume of medical rehabilitation provided in inpatient settings in the TPSG of the Tomsk oblast for the period of 2019–2022. Currently, three medical organizations in the region of different forms of ownership provide medical rehabilitation. In total, over a four-year-period, 8,804 cases in the specialty of medical rehabilitation were completed in the amount of 378.9 million rubles. An underfulfillment of the volume and costs of medical care during medical rehabilitation approved by the TPSG was recognized, as well as an outflow of patients for treatment to other regions (1,864 people during the study period). The most popular clinical and statistical groups (CSG) for which residents of the Tomsk oblast need rehabilitation measures have been identified, and organizational ways to improve the profile of this medical care have been substantiated.

Elevating excellence: a standardized process of training and development for private sector educational SMEs

PurposeThe study aims to address the critical area of training and development within private educational small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. It seeks to develop and standardize training and development process in private sector educational SMEs and establish a structured approach to training with the purpose of unlocking the full potential of the workforce, advancing educators’ professional growth and propelling organizational progress.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a meticulous three-phase approach. It begins with insightful interviews with school principals to investigate existing training practices. The subsequent phase involves formulating a comprehensive training and development policy, outlining purpose, scope, responsibilities, procedures and budget allocation. This policy undergoes participatory refinement to cater to specific SME needs. In the third phase, experimental design was adopted. Two groups, the experiment group and the control group, were formulated to check the effectiveness of proposed processes.FindingsRigorous statistical analysis, employing paired sample t-tests, unequivocally demonstrates a significant elevation in mean scores post-implementation of standardized training and development process. These findings affirm the efficacy of the policy in enhancing the effectiveness of training and development activities in private sector educational SMEs.Practical implicationsThe research highlights profound implications. By establishing a structured approach to training and development, educational SMEs can not only advance educators’ professional growth but also propel organizational progress and enhance education quality. It will provide a structured and step-by-step process to boost the work quality of staff. The study emphasizes the need for consistent implementation.Originality/valueThis research marks a substantial stride in revolutionizing how human capital is cultivated in private sector educational SMEs. It positions them to exert a transformative impact on Pakistan’s educational landscape, furthering the journey toward excellence. The study suggests avenues for future research, including the adaptation of this model to diverse educational contexts and an assessment of its scalability.

Solving discrete network design problem using disjunctive constraints

AbstractThis paper introduces a deterministic algorithm to solve the discrete network design problem (DNDP) efficiently. This non‐convex bilevel optimization problem is well‐known as an non deterministic polynomial (NP)‐hard problem in strategic transportation planning. The proposed algorithm optimizes budget allocation for large‐scale network improvements deterministically and with computational efficiency. It integrates disjunctive programming with an improved partial linearized subgradient method to enhance performance without significantly affecting solution quality. We evaluated our algorithm on the mid‐scale Sioux Falls and large‐scale Chicago networks. We assess the proposed algorithm's accuracy by examining the objective function's value, specifically the total travel time within the network. When tested on the mid‐scale Sioux Falls network, the algorithm achieved an average 46% improvement in computational efficiency, compared to the best‐performing method discussed in this paper, albeit with a 4.17% higher total travel time than the most accurate one, as the value of the objective function. In the application to the large‐scale Chicago network, the efficiency improved by an average of 99.48% while the total travel time experienced a 4.34% increase. These findings indicate that the deterministic algorithm proposed in this research improves the computational speed while presenting a limited trade‐off with solution precision. This deterministic approach offers a structured, predictable, and repeatable method for solving DNDP, which can advance transportation planning, particularly for large‐scale network applications where computational efficiency is paramount.

Clinical opinion spotlight: A sustainable model for improving access to mobile mammography for underserved populations

Minority women face disproportionately higher risks of breast cancer diagnosis and mortality under 50. Mobile mammography vans enhance screening accessibility but face challenges like long-term funding and operational viability. This study assesses existing mobile mammography van programs and proposes a sustainable model through literature review and qualitative interviews at a tertiary care academic medical center. The proposed model emphasizes partnerships, sponsorships and long-term funding for ensuring workforce sustainability. Organizational structure, budget allocation, patient workflow and follow-up protocols are aimed at transitioning towards serving primarily uninsured patients while maintaining financial stability. This sustainable approach hopes to enhance screening rates and timely care for underserved women, suggesting scalability and potential to reduce late-stage diagnoses and mortality. Continued implementation and evaluation are essential for validating feasibility and effectiveness, ensuring long-term improvement in screening rates and program longevity.