Operations research in public health.

ABSTRACT

Operations Research (OR) is gaining importance in public health interventions and programmes increasingly both nationally and internationally. The focus of these research techniques is to constantly guide the programme implementation to achieve best results. It modulates inputs and processes involved in the programme cycle and strive to produce optimal gains in achieving targets and goals. Utilizing the vast range of qualitative and quantitative tools, this research has produced significant results worth applying and testing in the real field. It also identifies problems; often programme managers encompass in operations of public health goods and test the feasible solutions for them. This paper higlights the relevance, thems, and methodological approaches in context to OR in public health. Multiple research and training opportunities currently exist locally and globally, to carry out OR for bringing out timely improvements.