Medical Equipment Replacement Planning Using the SWOT-ANP-WASPAS Hybrid Approach

Medical equipment replacement as one of the major principles of medical equipment management plays a sensitive and vital role in monitoring medical equipment in diagnosis, treatment and monitoring patients. In medical equipment replacement, we are aimed at adopting a policy in which, instead of using the equipment for a long time and with a higher maintenance cost, a suitable program for replacement the equipment is determined. The present study aims to present a decision-making system to facilitate the medical equipment replacement planning.

The present study attempts to provide a solution to the medical equipment replacement program for the first time by providing a SWOT-ANP-WASPAS hybrid approach. In the proposed framework of the research, the SWOT matrix has been used to identify criteria, sub-criteria and strategic alternatives. Subsequently, ANP technique is used to weigh the criteria and sub-criteria. Strategic alternatives have been also weighted using the WASPAS method.

The proposed decision-making system attempts to increase the self-confidence of the decision makers and present sufficient supporting evidence in order to provide strategies for medical equipment replacement. This system allows the decision makers to understand the complex communications regarding decision-making better, which will increase the reliability of the corresponding decisions.

The proposed hybrid approach can be integrated as a comprehensive decision-making system for medical equipment replacement in health centers and if the implementation of the formulated strategies and the sequence of their implementation is supported by managers, the costs of replacement will decrease and medical equipment technology will develop