Analysis of the barriers of implementing sustainable supply chain management in healthcare centers using interpretive structural modeling (ISM)

Regarding the sustainability considerations in the health care centers is critical to improve the quality of services, to decrease the costs and environmental issues. Of approaches that health care centers can use to achieve sustainability is sustainable supply chain management that improves environmental, social and economic effects of the organizations. In this research, after a review on the literature related to the sustainability in health care centers and sustainable supply chain management as well as interview with experts in these fields, 15 barriers of implementing sustainable supply chain management were determined in the health care centers. In addition, in another interview with experts, the relations and order of the importance of 15 identified barriers were determined according to interpretive structural modeling approach. The research results indicate that in addition to the Lack of an institutional support for integration, coordination and communication that is the most important barrier in implementing sustainable supply chain management in health care centers, the Lack of top management commitment to initiate sustainability efforts, the lack of knowledge among the members of supply chain, the lack of skilled human resources and Unawareness among society about social practices are also considered as other barriers in implementing sustainable supply chain management in the health care centers.