A P- median-model-based Analysis of Spatial Inequality in Accessibility to Public Health Care Intended for Urban Health Development in Isfahan City

Health care is considered a universal human right greatly emphasized in social welfare development in most countries. In this regard, public health care with its pervasive effects on the general level of communitie's health is a top priority drawing the attention of planners and decision-makers a like. Unequal and inharmonious distribution of such services leads to unequal accessibility caused either by inappropriate spatial distribution of health care centers or by insufficient human resources vis-a-vis the increasing demand for such services. This article tackles two causal factors, i.e., optimizing accessibility to public health care using a p-median model, and implementing the model in district 10 in Isfahan municipality as a case study. In the proposed model for location, various scenarios have been devised in proportion to allocated budgets. The results were subsequently compared and analyzed. The conclusions of this article may be incorporated in decision making as to spatially provided PHC for urban health development and utilized as a backup system for such decisions, so that prier to the implementation of projects designed for relevant facilities, the effects and characteristics of every alternative are analyzed from different angles and consequently proper decision is made with regard to limitations such us budget restriction. As a corollary, the choice to be made with regard to various scenarios is highly dependant on the spatial characteristics of the city especially on the budget allocated, and no scenario is per se absolutely preferable regardless of the needs and limitations of any given situation.