An evaluation of factors affecting health service delivery at Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Province

Abstract

This research evaluates factors affecting health service delivery in public hospitals in South Africa, especially focusing on the province of Limpopo, Mankweng Hospital. The right to high-quality medical treatment is enshrined in the South African Constitution. The pertinent section of the South African Constitution is section 27(1)(a), which stipulates that "everyone has the right to have access to healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare." This study was motivated by my observations of the challenges faced by patients and healthcare workers at Mankweng Hospital, where long lines and exhausted medical practitioners due to understaffing and resource scarcity are evident. To address these difficulties, I aimed to investigate the factors affecting health-service delivery in public hospitals. By identifying the root causes of these challenges, this study seeks to contribute to the development of evidence-based solutions that will improve patient care, alleviate the workload of healthcare workers, and enhance the overall healthcare experience in public hospitals. The study adopted qualitative, utilising semi-structured interview questionnaire. Purposive and random sampling were used in this study. Content analysis was utilized for data analysis to identify and categorise major themes arising from the data, including organizational structures, resource limitations, staff attitudes, patient experiences, and policy impacts. The research findings highlighted several obstacles in the provision of healthcare services, such as lengthy waiting periods, insufficient staffing, and scarcity of essential resources, which disproportionately affect rural regions and undermine the quality of healthcare delivered. These challenges are further compounded by an unreliable power supply and inadequate IT infrastructure, impeding the adoption of information and communication technology resources, and impacting specific groups such as rural inhabitants. To tackle these challenges, it is crucial for the government and healthcare establishments to formulate a strategic plan to enhance healthcare service delivery, increase budgetary allocations, and tackle human resource and equipment shortages, while simultaneously improving IT infrastructure and exploring alternative energy sources.