Multiple Criteria Sorting Model with MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators

Esra Duygu Durmaz; İlker Gölcük

doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1864482

Multiple Criteria Sorting Model with MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators

Abstract

Evaluating national healthcare performance is a complex and multidimensional problem that requires balancing system resources against health outcomes and financial equity. This study introduces an integrated Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) framework combining the MEREC (Method based on the Removal Effects of Criteria) and VIKOR-Sort methods to classify the 27 European Union (EU) member states into ordered health-performance categories. The analysis uses a set of health indicators that reflect key dimensions of risk and system performance, including preventable mortality burdens, health-system capacity, financing effort and outcome vulnerability. The proposed methodology is based on a data-driven model designed to reduce decision-maker subjectivity. In the first stage, the MEREC approach is employed to determine objective indicator weights by evaluating how the overall assessment changes when each indicator is removed. In the second stage, using the weights, the VIKOR-Sort method is utilized to classify countries into ordered performance classes based on boundary profiles. The results identify three performance groups: higher-performing countries, a broad middle group with mixed results, and a lower-performing group facing multiple challenges. The ordered class structure is intended to provide a basis for benchmarking and policy interpretation and to help identify priority areas for improvement across countries’ health systems.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

İzmir Bakırçay University

Project Number

KBP.2025.001

Ethical Statement

The study is complied with research and publication ethics.

Thanks

This work was supported by İzmir Bakırçay University, Office of Scientific Research Projects. Grant number: [KBP.2025.001, 2025].

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Multiple Criteria Decision Making, Industrial Engineering

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Esra Duygu Durmaz ^*
0000-0002-8882-333X
Türkiye

İlker Gölcük
0000-0002-8430-7952
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

January 15, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1864482

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA68FH36FD

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Durmaz, E. D., & Gölcük, İ. (2026). Multiple Criteria Sorting Model with MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, 15(3), 1105-1118. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1864482

AMA

1.Durmaz ED, Gölcük İ. Multiple Criteria Sorting Model with MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15(3):1105-1118. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1864482

Chicago

Durmaz, Esra Duygu, and İlker Gölcük. 2026. “Multiple Criteria Sorting Model With MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 (3): 1105-18. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1864482.

EndNote

Durmaz ED, Gölcük İ (September 1, 2026) Multiple Criteria Sorting Model with MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 3 1105–1118.

IEEE

[1]E. D. Durmaz and İ. Gölcük, “Multiple Criteria Sorting Model with MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators”, Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 1105–1118, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.17798/bitlisfen.1864482.

ISNAD

Durmaz, Esra Duygu - Gölcük, İlker. “Multiple Criteria Sorting Model With MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15/3 (September 1, 2026): 1105-1118. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1864482.

JAMA

1.Durmaz ED, Gölcük İ. Multiple Criteria Sorting Model with MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15:1105–1118.

MLA

Durmaz, Esra Duygu, and İlker Gölcük. “Multiple Criteria Sorting Model With MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 1105-18, doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1864482.

Vancouver

1.Esra Duygu Durmaz, İlker Gölcük. Multiple Criteria Sorting Model with MEREC and VIKOR-Sort for Evaluating European Union Countries Through Health Indicators. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Sep. 1;15(3):1105-18. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1864482