A model and a heuristic for the primary health care coverage planning problem in Portugal – application to ‘Cova da Beira’ case

This communication presents an attempt in order to help on the Planning of a Primary Health Care Delivery System in Portugal. The research was conducted in order to get the optimal location and ‘districting’ of hierarchical facilities in a network system. A linear integer multiobjective model is presented, considering location-allocation theory and also demographic evolution, as well as coherent structure. A metaheuristic solution method is provided. The model and the metaheuristic was applied to a set of instances and ‘Cova da Beira’ Case.