The effect of procurement planning on health service delivery in Uganda

Abstract

This research was carried out to establish the relationship between procurement planning and health service delivery in Uganda. It was carried out in Nkozi hospital. The researcher mainly focused on bid solicitation, bid evaluation and prequalification of health service providers as the dimensions of procurement planning. The researcher used the quantitative method of data collection and the parasuraman’s servqual tool for measuring the quality of health service delivery. Under this tool, elements like reliability, responsiveness, assurance, effectiveness and efficiency and communication were used to measure the quality of health service in Nkozi hospital. The researcher used questionnaires as a method of data collection where 97 questionnaires were distributed to management and staff of Nkozi hospital. The data was then analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and was presented using descriptive statistics. According to the research carried out on the effect of procurement planning on health service delivery, the findings show that there was a positive significant relationship between bid solicitation, bid evaluation, and prequalification of health service providers and health service delivery. This shows that Nkozi hospital has qualified health workers who provide the quality of services needed by patients hence meeting their expectations. The research showed that proper drug prescription by health service providers meets patients’ satisfaction after being healed. Through that, patients are able to assess the kind of quality provided by health workers at Nkozi hospital. It also shows that bid evaluation increases trust and confidence of health workers and that through recruiting qualified health workers, the quality of health services can be assessed before inviting bids or proposals for a particular health contract. Therefore it was recommended that there is need for the government and other private employers in the health sector to actively motivate health workers by paying salaries in time,