Factors that affect implementation of TQM System in Public Health Sector in Africa

Factors that affect implementation of TQM system in public health sector in Africa

      African public system has not yet delivered a total quality management system in health care in its entirety; there are many factors that hinder the total implementation in public health. As a result private sectors pave its way to deliver the service in a bigger part. About 60% in its population is relying mostly in private institution that has definitely a high priced in medicine and professional service in most areas, thus creating poverty especially in the urban community due to poor delivery of public health and medicine. A sick person will need to invest on his own just to cope up to his disease because if he doesn’t, there may not be enough medicine available for public consumption increasing death rate without a cost rather than poverty.

      Deadly diseases like malaria, diarrhea, tuberculosis, HIV spread throughout within the community without relief.  Low delivery of public health assistance is extreme. There are no clinical and medical stations nearby so the people need to travel very far to reach the service of a public office in healthcare.  Thus the result for death and damages to its people is like a curse. Thirst, malnutrition and hunger are rampant and highly observe within the family.  

      The necessity is evident that there is so much work to do to implement a Total Quality Management System to deliver services especially in health care to its people and that it takes a large amount of public capital to build a dynamic system that will suffice the amount needed to transform the service requirement to its people. Therefore lack financial assistance is the government main concern to implement such plans.  It is about time to think about the people. The big question is how the government can help to develop a viable health care system in low income countries to improve access in public health care? 

      The government should prioritize the ever emerging problems within this continent. So these are real factors that affect the implementation of Total Quality system in public health? Let us point out the following reasons in particular.

1.    Africa has the second largest population after Asia. The population has grown exponentially over the past years and consequently shows strong increase in its birth rate creating scarcity and famine, more demand and lack of supply not just in health care but also in food and education distribution.

2.     Lack of education and poverty  – due to the large population and lack of education of the people the government cannot provide public doctors and professionals that will suffice the large population to serve the community thus allowing private sectors and civil service from other countries to take over which is still not enough for the people. The following table should give you an estimated idea. These figures refer to per each country base only.   (Population per doctor  about 1 per 15,000 / Population per nurse about 1 per 5,000 / Population per midwife 1 per 7000 source: World Health Organization 2002 

3.     Lack of funds – Distribution of public funds throughout the country is divided mainly in livelihood, agriculture and infrastructure thus living a small portion in healthcare and education which is understandable.

4.    Lack of technological and technical advancements – Since there are many problem arises from poverty, the main concern of the people is to get by everyday wondering if they live another day. Technological advancement discerns to increase to do these reasons. Therefore creating non progressive barriers to advance in medical and health care. Equipments and machineries used by medical professionals are that of the 90’s which may not be adequate in today’s needs.

The following International Organization teams up to help alleviate poverty and malnutrition and health services in Africa.

1.    World Health Organization (WHO)

2.    Bill Gates Foundation

3.    International Finance Corporation (IFC)

4.    Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MAPI)

5.    US Agency for International Development (USAID)

6.    And many others

Source: Trends and Opportunities in Public-Private Partnerships to Improve

      Even in the early 90’s the African government continuously provides solution in health problem providing solutions and relief to their people. All government efforts including private and international organization dedicate their energies toward making healthcare accessible and affordable to the general people of Africa. But still more and more works are needed to be done to make their dreams came into light.

 

Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com