Enhancing home delivery of emergency medicine and medical supplies through clustering and simulation techniques: A case study of COVID-19 home isolation in Bangkok

Abstract

This study investigates the enhancement of the home delivery distribution network for COVID-19 Home Isolation (HI) kits during the Delta variant outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Bangkok Metropolitan Area, Thailand. It addresses challenges related to limited resources and delays in delivering HI kits, which can exacerbate symptoms and increase mortality rates. A k-means clustering approach is utilized to optimize the assignment of service areas within the COVID-19 HI program, while discrete event simulation (DES) evaluates potential changes in the home delivery logistics network. Real-world data from the peak outbreak is used to determine the optimal allocation of resources and propose a new logistics network based on proximity to patients' residences. Experimental results demonstrate a significant 44.29% improvement in overall performance and a substantial 40.80% decrease in maximum service time. The findings offer theoretical and managerial implications for effective HI management, supporting practitioners and policymakers in mitigating the impact of future outbreaks.