Introduction to the special issue

摘要

These are challenging times for decision makers in Departments of Health, strategic health authorities and healthcare organisations. Budgetary constraints, technological change, system reform, immigration and demographic change are putting health services under unprecedented strain. The purpose of this special issue of the EURO Journal on Decision Processes (EJDP) is to explore how modelling can help better understand these challenges, and aid decision makers in choosing appropriate strategic or policy actions.