Simulation Optimization Models for Reducing Inequities in Ambulance Coverage

InequityInequities in access to ambulanceAmbulance services is a well-recognized issue in the literature. Most studies have focused on the efficiency objective of maximizing ambulanceAmbulance coverage, paying little attention to the equitable distribution of this coverage among the served population. This chapter proposes coverage models that seek both to maximize overall coverage and distribute it equitably across the areas of the studied territory. To this end, several multi-objective simulation optimization (SO) models are developed and compared using data from the Fez-Meknes region in Morocco. These SO models were built using the weighted sum method and the ϵ-constraint method and were solved by deploying the OptQuest engine. The simulation results show that efficiency and equityEquity objectives are conflicting. Additionally, SO models developed using the weighted sum method achieved better results than those developed using the ϵ-constraint method in terms of both coverage and equity.