Influence of public private partnership on service delivery in the health sector within Uasin Gishu county, Kenya

Abstract

Most public or private projects are faced with financial and human resource challenges resulting from increased cost of goods, staffing and budget resulting to creation of the Public Private Partnership (PPP). However, in spite of the government financial and human resources support through the Public Private Partnership strategy, this projects management is not certain if the community has gained substantial improvement in their livelihood with regard to service delivery. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of Public Private Partnership on service delivery in the health sector within Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The study specifically determined the influence of PPP financial support on service delivery, established the influence of PPP human resource support on service delivery, found out the influence of PPP procurement support on service delivery and ascertained the influence of PPP managerial support on service delivery in the health sector. The study was informed by Stakeholders’ theory and Transaction Cost Theory and used descriptive survey research design because it gives a thorough and accurate description survey by determining how Public Private Partnership influences services delivery. The study targeted 300 Technical staff, 600 Community health care nurses, 50 Health monitoring staff, 200 Community health workers and 5 County ministry of health officials which gives a total of 1155 persons working in various fields within the health sector in Uasin Gishu County. Random sampling was used in this study to select a sample size of 120 health workers. The primary data for the study was obtained using structured questionnaires. Content validity of the instrument was obtained using instruments from previous studies that have been reviewed. Reliability test of the instruments was done using Cronbach alpha coefficient. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics specifically mean and standard deviation. Inferential statistics was Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. The study found that public private partnership financial support (β1=0.238, p<0.05), public private partnership procurement support (β2=0. 0.361, p<0.05) and public private partnership managerial support (β3=0.334, p<0.05) had a positive and significant effect on service delivery in the health sector within Uasin Gishu County. However, on public private partnership human resource support, the study findings revealed that there was no adequate human resource support from the Public Private Partnership especially in terms of the partners providing the employees with necessary skills they need for improved service delivery. This can be done through constant training in workshops, conferences as well as providing the employees opportunities to attend seminars to enhance their skills. There is need to provide information on grants and funding sources as well as how the funds are utilized and involving the employees in the making of financial decisions which would ensure inclusiveness as well as motivating the employees which would make them feel appreciated and important.