The optimal utilisation of supply chain management at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital
Date
2014-10-10
Authors
Mfenguza, Nobuntu Henrietta
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Abstract
Government procurement has been receiving attention in the Gauteng Provincial
Government. Numerous strategies have been developed to make SCM perform better
to improve service delivery by the government departments. In spite of these
interventions the Gauteng Department of Health has suffered a number of setbacks as
a result of poor quality healthcare services at some of its hospitals. More attention has
been put on the shortages of healthcare service professionals and lack of care at the
hospitals as causes of the hiccoughs in providing quality healthcare services. The aim
of this study is to investigate the optimisation of SCM as one of the most important
support function in providing quality health care service at Charlotte Maxeke General
Academic Hospital.
The basic qualitative research was followed in this study and in-depth semi-structured
interviews were conducted to obtain the views from the various categories of people
involved in SCM value chain for CMJAH.
The main finding was that SCM will be effective if this function is properly integrated at
the hospital. In addition to this collaboration, coordination, cooperation, trust and
information sharing will improve the working relationships between the healthcare
service professionals and SCM officials at the hospital. While the hiccoughs have been
attributed to shortages of healthcare service professionals this study has also found that
shortages of medical equipment can contribute to healthcare professionals leaving the
public hospitals for better working conditions at the private hospitals. Issues relating with
the structure of SCM was another finding which this study found to be the cause of
fragmentation and lack of accountability at the hospital.
Finally recommendations have been provided to alleviate the situation. While a copy of
this report will be provide to the hospital there is no guarantee that the findings will be
implemented. As a public institution CMJAH operates in a political environment where
decisions are made at a higher political level.
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Health services administration -- South Africa.