Optimizing Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Configuration in Primary Healthcare: A Mathematical Modeling and Decision Support Approach

This research project aims to determine the optimal warehouse location allocation for medication distribution to ensure efficient and cost-effective pharmaceutical supply chain management.It also aims to make significant contributions to pharmaceutical inventory management and supply chain resilience while providing a tangible and practical solution for improving patient care in public health centers in Qatar.The paper presents a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model for strategically allocating warehouse locations in a pharmaceutical supply chain, designed to minimize the total operational costs while satisfying regional medication demands.Results demonstrated that a centralized warehouse in the West region, which has the highest number of health centers, offers the most cost-effective solution, indicating reduced transportation costs and improved distribution efficiency over decentralized alternatives.The optimal configuration results in significant cost savings and heightened operational efficiency, affirming the strategic advantage of aligning warehouse location with healthcare demand concentration.The expected impacts of the project extend to both practical and scientific realms.From a practical perspective, the project outcomes will enhance the quality of patient care by improving accessibility to medications, reducing the burden on pharmacies, and reducing cost and efficiency.