Multi-Criteria Evaluation for Selecting Medicine Providers A Comprehensive Analysis Using COPRAS Method

The selection of medicine providers is a critical process, particularly in urgent situations such as responding to health crises or escalating demands. This study employs the COPRAS method to evaluate and prioritize five medicine providers based on essential criteria including reliability, quality, pricing, production capacity, technological expertise, unique medicine attributes, and delivery efficiency. Health tourism has seen a substantial surge, encompassing not only medical services but also accommodations, local attractions, transport, and dining options. Customers seek a method to choose healthcare destinations considering various factors. The focus on medical services, especially during emergencies like natural disasters or viral outbreaks, has prompted extensive research. This paper aims to use the COPRAS method, known for handling uncertain and incomplete data, to select medical providers for such critical situations. This method calculates criteria weights, manages uncertain evaluations from experts, and ranks feasible alternatives. By demonstrating its effectiveness through rankings, the paper applies this model to evaluate and select medical providers for New York-based patients, showcasing its practicality and computational process. The findings from this comprehensive evaluation framework offer a structured approach for decision-making, enabling stakeholders to select medicine providers tailored to meet specific priorities or demands, ensuring timely and reliable access to critical medical supplies, especially in emergency situations.