Institutional Challenges in Inpatients Health Service Delivery in Regional Hospitals in Uganda. A case of Fort Portal Hospital

Abstract

This study investigated the institutional challenges to inpatient health service delivery in Regional Referral Hospitals in Uganda with a major emphasis on Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital. The study specifically investigated; The effect of financial resources, medical infrastructure and human resources management on the inpatients health service delivery at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital The study was a cross sectional design with a sample size of 184 and employed purposive sampling, stratified random sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected using; questionnaires, interview guides , focus group discussion guide and observation check list . Data analysis used both the qualitative and quantitative approach. The study found out that there exists inadequate funding, inadequate medical infrastructure and low staffing which affects operations and health workers’ morale. Recommendations included; the need to recruit more staff as provided for in the establishment, to reduce too much work load due to the large number of inpatients. There is need to increase staff remuneration in order to boost their morale. There is also need to renovate and expand on the inpatient medical infrastructure, procurement of more medical equipment and to increase the funding bulk for the inpatient department of the hospital.