Healthy Firms: Constraints to Growth among Private Health Sector Facilities in Ghana and Kenya

摘要: Background Health outcomes in developing countries continue to lag the developed world, and many are not on target meet Millennium Development Goals. The private health sector provides much of care (e.g., approximately 50 percent Sub-Saharan Africa), but providers often poorly integrated into system. Efforts improve systems performance will need include increase its contributions national goals. However, literature constraints face is limited. Methodology/Principal Findings We analyze data from a survey facilities Kenya Ghana evaluate growth facing providers. A significant portion (Ghana: 62 percent; Kenya: 40 percent) report limited access finance as most barrier they face; only small minority using formal credit institutions day operations 6 11 percent). Other important barriers corruption, crime, demand for goods services, poor public infrastructure. Most have paper-based rather than electronic patient records 30 22 percent), accounting 45 27 inventory control 41 24 majority clinics both undertaking activities provider skills monitor level quality provide. pharmacies such activities. Conclusions/Significance The results suggest that improved improving business processes especially among would support by facilities. These strategies might be complementary if more able take advantage increased when place operating successful facility.