Procurement Management Practices And Service Delivery Of The Private Healthcare Sector: The Moderating Role Of Digitization

Abstract

Health is a vibrant indicator of a nation’s economic development and growth. Therefore, service delivery in the health sector is very important since its outcome directly affects human lives. Notwithstanding that, limited attention has been given to how procurement management activities affect service delivery in this sector, particularly among private hospitals. Employing the information systems theory, and the institutional theory of management, this study examined the relationship between procurement management practices and service delivery of private hospitals in Ghana, and how digitization moderates the relationship. The study employed the explanatory research design and the quantitative research approach. Considering a population size of 319 private hospitals within the Greater Accra region, the census sampling technique was used. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used for data collection and the response rate was 205. The partial least square structural equation modelling was the data analytical technique employed. The SmartPLS v3 software was used for data processing to generate the statistical test results. It was found that procurement management practices have a significant and positive impact on the service delivery of the private hospitals studied. It also proved that hospitals offer better service delivery when procurement management practices are executed digitally. The study concluded that the positive relationship between service delivery and procurement management practices improves with the introduction of digitalization. The study recommends private hospitals in the Greater Accra region of Ghana to prioritize digitization as a strategic resource for better service delivery.