An Examination on the Effectiveness of Public Sector Procurement Processes in Enhancing Service Delivery: A Case Study of Ministry of Health in Lusaka, Matero Hospital Level 1

The Zambian government is currently grappling with challenges in delivering quality healthcare services to its population. In response to these issues, Zambia has embarked on an ambitious health sector decentralization program, implementing various policies over the years to improve healthcare accessibility and effectiveness. Notably, the National Health Policy enacted in August 2012 underscores a commitment to achieving equity in access to cost-effective, quality health services as close to families as possible. This policy framework aims to address disparities in healthcare delivery and ensure that essential services reach every concerned citizen, particularly in underserved areas. The overall objective of the study was to examine the effectiveness of public sector procurement processes in enhancing service delivery, focusing specifically on the Ministry of Health at the Matero first Level Hospital in Lusaka. This study aimed to assess several key areas: first, the effectiveness of the procurement process for medical supplies at Matero First Level Hospital; second, how policy can enhance efficiency in the supply chain of medical supplies; and third, to evaluate various methods for improving the procurement of medicines and medical supplies in public health facilities across Lusaka district. The research employed a comprehensive survey method, gathering data from a total sample of 50 respondents, which included 34 males and 16 females, comprising households and healthcare professionals affiliated with Matero First Level Hospital. To enrich the data collection process, two focused group discussions were conducted, involving six and four members, respectively, alongside interviews with six key informants. These key informants included the District Medical Officer, the In-Charge of Matero First Level Hospital, and the Medical Superintendent of the Matero Reference Health Centre. The study utilized both quantitative and qualitative research methods for data collection, employing questionnaires to gather quantitative data from households. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings revealed several critical factors impacting the provision of quality healthcare services at the Hospital. Key issues identified included the adequacy and quality of staffing, where job satisfaction was closely linked to pay and overall working conditions. Insufficient and irregular funding emerged as a significant barrier to effective planning and service delivery. Additional challenges included inadequate infrastructure, a high patient population, and fluctuating availability of medical supplies, which collectively compromised the quality of healthcare services. Overcrowding resulted in long queues and prolonged waiting times, further exacerbated by a lack of information and the physical distances many patients had to travel to access services. To address these challenges, the study recommends that the Zambian government take decisive action to increase the number of healthcare staff at Matero First Level Hospital, accompanied by improvements in their working conditions and remunerations. Furthermore, it is essential to strengthen the financial capacity of the hospital to ensure a consistent and adequate supply of medical resources, ultimately enhancing the quality of healthcare services provided to the community.