Yüz maskeleri ve eldivenlerin atık yönetimine odaklanan sağlık sıstemlerinde tedarik zinciri yönetimi için entegre bir yaklaşım

Healthcare supply chain management has become a critical area of focus, as it encompasses key components such as service quality, inventory optimization, the incorporation of recyclable products, and logistics coordination. Effective management of these elements not only reduces costs but also contributes to the development of sustainable solutions that address environmental, societal, and economic challenges faced by healthcare organizations. The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent crises have highlighted significant vulnerabilities within healthcare systems, prompting policymakers to prioritize the development of comprehensive reforms and policies to strengthen healthcare supply chains. In particular, the extraordinary demands imposed by pandemics and crises necessitate innovative approaches to resource allocation, logistics management, and the handling of complex production and inventory systems. One of the most pressing challenges emerging from these dynamics is the substantial increase in medical and plastic waste generation, particularly from disposable items such as gloves and face masks. This waste presents a significant environmental challenge, as overall recycling rates remain low despite advancements in waste management technologies. Although gloves and face masks that are not contaminated with clinical waste or hazardous chemicals can be recycled, their widespread use during the pandemic—and their continued use post-pandemic—has not been met with sufficient policy efforts to enhance recycling and reuse strategies. This challenge is especially acute in developing countries, including Turkey, where inefficiencies in managing face mask and glove waste persist. Istanbul, as Turkey's largest and most populous city, exemplifies the complexities of medical waste management, underscoring a critical gap in the literature and in policy implementation. This thesis seeks to address this pressing issue by developing a comprehensive and effective waste management policy for disposable face masks and gloves in Istanbul. The research focuses on public waste generation in the post-pandemic period and explores strategies to facilitate the efficient reuse, upcycling, and recycling of these materials. To achieve this, the study employs a multidisciplinary approach that integrates three distinct methodologies: (1) a system dynamics model to simulate and analyse the supply chain of face mask and glove waste management, providing insights into key systemic behaviours and interdependencies; (2) a novel non-linear grey Bernoulli model to forecast trends in medical waste generation in Istanbul and to inform evidence-based policy development; and (3) a spherical multi-criteria decision-making framework to evaluate and prioritise waste management practices based on multiple, often conflicting criteria to be used in the suggested model. The integration of these methodologies enables the construction of a stock-flow diagram model, which synthesizes insights from empirical data, literature, and methodological findings, as a proposed model. This model offers a comprehensive framework for understanding and managing the life cycle of face mask and glove waste, addressing inefficiencies and proposing actionable solutions tailored to Istanbul's unique context. The study's findings, on the other hand, culminate in a set of detailed policy and strategy recommendations designed to enhance waste management systems focused on face masks and gloves waste in Istanbul. These recommendations emphasize coordinated efforts involving both the Turkish government and the Istanbul municipality, aiming to implement an integrated and sustainable waste management approach. The proposed model incorporates a range of interrelated variables and their causal interactions, reflecting the complexity of the waste management landscape. By addressing these interactions, the thesis also provides a robust foundation for improving recycling rates, promoting reuse strategies, and mitigating the environmental impacts of medical waste. Ultimately, this research contributes to the broader field of healthcare supply chain management by presenting a scalable and replicable model for managing disposable medical waste, with implications that extend beyond Istanbul to other urban centres facing similar challenges.