Improving Care and Sanitation Facilities of Public Healthcare Delivery System: A Patient - Provider Perspective

Abstract

Despite being one of the fastest economies of the world and having taken big steps to advance the country’s health status after independence, India still has a long way to go. India’s healthcare system is challenging, particularly because of huge population size, economic and social factors coupled with the increasing burden of communicable and lifestyle diseases. Public hospitals in our country are heavily utilized by lower income groups of the society. While this is a good indication of the level of access of people to the facilities, this also casts an obligation on the Government to improve its infrastructure, systems and performance. Reports of numerous patients dying due to lack of oxygen supply in wards, patients waiting for long hours for getting admission and treatment, shortage of medical staff or unavailability of drugs and equipment’s in the hospital is prevalent. The main objective of this study is to investigate the quality of care and sanitation facilities provided by a tertiary level public healthcare facility. Information was collected from the inpatients and support staff of the hospital. The researcher feels that both the groups complement each other and hence their feedback is essential for better identification of problems. Infrastructural scarcity and under-utilization of material resources were a major issue. The researcher recommends monitoring, accountability-based work environment, policy and infrastructural changes for optimal utilization of resources in the public facility.

Keywords: Healthcare, satisfaction, quality, management, service

Cite this Article

Reeti Debnath, Sumati Ray. Improving Care and Sanitation Facilities of Public Healthcare Delivery System: A Patient- Provider Perspective. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Health Professions. 2018; 8(2): 37–48p.