Over the past decades healthcare organisations have grown in size and complexity and healthcare costs have outpaced economic growth. In countries where healthcare is publicly-funded, increasing costs have traditionally meant a rise in the healthcare budgets in real terms; however, the ongoing global financial and economic crisis (2007-present) has had spending implications on governmental budgets for public resources in several countries. This apparent contradiction - "provide better service at a lesser cost" - which may last for years to come therefore necessitates the careful use of the allocated healthcare budgets through better and more informed decision making.

The JEIM Special ebook on Healthcare Operations Management focuses on one particular decision support technique, namely, Simulation. The technique can be used by healthcare stakeholders to model a system of interest, experiment with various operational scenarios and to get advice on how to make the best possible use of public money.