Purchasing management in healthcare

Based on the chair ‘Management Science and Purchasing Management’ at the University of Twente, headed by Prof. dr. Jan Telgen, a group is founded that studies purchasing with mathematical methods in the public sector. One of the focus areas of this group is healthcare. Currently, increased attention is given to the long-term care sector and its relationship with the welfare sector (The Netherlands: AWBZ, WMO).

The main topics of research are, amongst others, governmental purchasers in healthcare that must decide between several tender options (Govert Heijboer), the possibilities for purchasing cooperation (Fredo Schotanus), and the opportunities of bundling purchase orders (Merijn Linthorst).

Additionally, research into several supplier selection procedures has been conducted. Many criteria come into play in the selection of suppliers, such as price and quality. To deal with these criteria is a challenge, not only for purchasers in practice, but for researchers as well.