Abstract
The research project presented in this paper is part of the Program of Scientific Research of National Interest (PRIN) funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR). The project, entitled “Modelling, simulation and testing of innovative logistics networks for drugs management in healthcare”, involved two research centers of LIUC University: C- Log (Logistics Research Centre) and CREMS (Center for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management). A structured review of the literature concerning the distribution at a local level of incontinence pads and long-term oxygen was performed to highlight research gaps in the current knowledge regarding the distribution of the considered medical devices at a local level. Moving from the outcomes of the literature review, an empirical investigation was performed to fill the identified gaps: a sample of five Local Health Authorities of Lombardy Region (Bergam o, Lecco, Milan, Pavia and Sondrio) was studied through the case study methodology and the benchmarking technique. The analysis of the processes related to the distribution of medical devices allowed to partially fill the literary gap observed. The results showed that it is not possible to state the existence of an optimal distribution model considering efficiency and effectiveness; however, they offered the opportunity to analyze the dynamics of distribution in different territories and to derive guidelines for a general design of distribution models.