Maximal covering location problem for nuclear medicine clinics allocation in Nigeria

Several studies demonstrate the usefulness of nuclear medicine procedures for public health problems in developing countries. Little is known about the location and accessibility of nuclear medicine facilities, thus making the assessment of their location and allocation an integral part in strengthening nuclear medicine services in these countries. This paper employed the Maximal Covering Location Problem to identify the optimum numbers of University Teaching and Research Hospitals (UTRHs) that can be upgraded to provide Nuclear Medicine (NM) services to the largest number of Local Government Areas (LGAs) within a 200 km threshold drive time in Nigeria. It also identified developmental priority for the optimum UTRHs. Our analysis shows that about 26% of the LGAs are within 200 km distance from the two existing NM facilities and if NM services are restricted to only the UTRHs, 84% coverage of the LGAs can be achieved within a 200 km drive time of 11 UTRHs in Nigeria. Compared with others, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Kano State should be prioritized because it consistently has between 90 and 110 LGAs within its 200 km distance. Our study identified the optimal locations for nuclear medicine facilities and offers additional theoretical insights into strengthening nuclear medicine services in developing countries.