scholarly journals The Church and the Healthcare Sector in Kenya: A Functional Analysis of Its Development through Evangelization

Author(s):  
Francis O. Barasa

The health sector in Kenya has grown rapidly. The corner stone of this growth was laid by the early Christian Missionaries who combined Evangelization with education and health. Thishistorical developmentled to the development and expansion of the healthcare system in Kenya by contributing to the building of a firm foundation upon which Kenya’s health care stands today. TheChurch’s education-health functional strategy cemented this milestone leading to the growth of a vibrant health care sector in Kenya. This has culminated in a well-coordinated ChurchGovernment partnership in the implementation of health programs. Today Kenya is the leading country in the East African region in the delivery of well-established and functional health care system. The Church’s pioneer efforts saw the healthcare in Kenya expand rapidly to all parts of the country thus playing a significant role in the healthcare market.The objective of this paper was therefore to explore the Church’scontribution to the development of healthcare sector in Kenya, to examine the functional role of an integrated and holistic approach to health care as a tool for the nurturing of Christian values and faith that support spiritual growth among people, to assess the sociological implicationsunderpinning the entire process of growth of health care through a Church-Government participatory partnership approach and how this approach has created a better society.Purposive sampling procedure was used to select four mainstream Churches that pioneered Evangelization in Kenya. Using qualitative approach, secondary data was obtained through face to face interviews with key informants from the four mainstream Churches.Data was transcribed and analysed qualitatively in for of themes. The findings show that the Church played a significant role in the development of health care in Kenya, they also show that the use of an integrated and holistic approach to health care was responsible for the evangelization and treatment of many Christians in Kenya and from a sociological perspective the findings show that the Church plays a significant role in unifying society. The study recommends that the Church should be supported through government policies to continue investing in the health care sector, other Churches in Kenya should adopt an integrated holistic approach to health care and the Church should strengthen its unifying role for the sake of a stable nation. The study will benefit the Church, policy makers and other stakeholders.

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norah L. Katende-Kyenda ◽  
Martie Lubbe ◽  
Juan H.P. Serfontein ◽  
Ilse Truter

Current antiretroviral treatment (ART) guidelines recommend different combinations that have led to major improvements in the management of HIV and AIDS in the developed and developing world. With the rapid approval of many agents, health care providers may not be able to familiarise themselves with them all. This lack of knowledge leads to increased risk of dose- prescribing errors, especially by non-HIV and AIDS specialists. The purpose of this retrospective non-experimental, quantitative drug utilisation study was to evaluate if antiretrovirals (ARVs) are prescribed according to the recommended prescribed daily doses (PDDs) in a section of the private health care sector in South Africa (SA). Analysed ARV prescriptions (49995, 81096 and 88988) for HIV and AIDS patients were claimed from a national medicine claims database for the period 1 January 2005 through to 31 December 2007. ARV prescriptions prescribed by general practitioners (GPs) with PDDs not according to the recommended ARV dosing increased dramatically, from 12.33% in 2005 to 24.26% in 2007. Those prescribed by specialists (SPs) increased from 15.46% in 2005 to 35.20% in 2006 and decreased to 33.16% in 2007. The highest percentage of ARV prescriptions with PDDs not according to recommended ARV dosing guidelines was identified in ARV regimens with lopinavir−ritonavir at a PDD of 1066.4/264 mg and efavirenz at a PDD of 600 mg prescribed to patients in the age group of Group 3 (19 years > age ≤ 45 years). These regimens were mostly prescribed by GPs rather than SPs. There is a need for more education for all health care professionals and/or providers in the private health care sector in SA on recommended ARV doses, to avoid treatment failures, development of resistance, drug-related adverse effects and drug interactions.OpsommingHuidige riglyne vir behandeling met antiretrovirale middels beveel verskillende kombinasies aan wat tot groot verbetering in die beheer van MIV en VIGS in die ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende wêreld gelei het. Met die vinnige goedkeuring van talle nuwe middels kan dit gebeur dat verskaffers van gesondheidsorg nie kan bybly om hulle hiermee op hoogte te hou nie. Hierdie gebrek aan kennis lei tot ‘n hoër risiko vir foute in die voorgeskrewe dosis en veral deur persone wat nie spesialiste in MIV en VIGS is nie. Die doel van hierdie nie-eksperimentele, retrospektiewe, kwantitatiewe studie van die gebruik van geneesmiddels was om te bepaal of antiretrovirale middels in ‘n deel van die privaat gesondheidsorgsektor in Suid-Afrika (SA) volgens die aanbevole voorgeskrewe daaglikse dosisse (VDD) voorgeskryf word. Voorskrifte van antiretrovirale middels (49995, 81096 en 88988) aan pasiënte met MIV en VIGS wat in die periode van 1 Januarie 2005 tot 31 Desember 2007 van ‘n nasionale medisyne databasis geëis is, is ontleed. Voorskrifte van antiretrovirale middels deur algemene praktisyns (APs) met VDDs wat nie volgens die aanbevole dosisse vir antiretrovirale middels was nie, het dramaties van 12.33% in 2005 tot 24.26% in 2007 toegeneem. Die wat deur spesialiste (SPs) voorgeskryf is, het van 15.46% in 2005 tot 35.20% in 2006 toegeneem en in 2007 tot 33.16% gedaal. Die hoogste persentasie van voorskrifte vir antiretrovirale middels met VDDs wat nie volgens die riglyne was nie, was in die regimens met lopinavir−ritonavir met ‘n VDD van 1066.4/264 mg en efavirens met ‘n VDD van 600 mg wat aan pasiënte in die ouderdomsgroep van ouer as 19 tot en met 45 jaar voorgeskryf is. Hierdie regimens is meer deur APs as deur SPs voorgeskryf. Daar is ‘n behoefte aan nog opleiding van alle gesondheidsprofessies en/of voersieners in die privaat gesondheidsorgsektor in SA oor die aanbevole antiretrovirale middel-dosisse om mislukking van behandeling, ontwikkeling van weerstand, nadelige effekte vanweë geneesmiddels en geneesmiddel interaksies te voorkom.


Author(s):  
PRAJITHA BIJU ◽  
PALLAVI K. ◽  
VAGEESH REVADIGAR ◽  
SONAL DSOUZA ◽  
MOHAMMED ASIF IQBAL ◽  
...  

The global crisis of the present era, the COVID-19 pandemic, has changed given new normal ways in many of the sectors. The present review highlights the impact, problems, and challenges faced by major areas of the health care sector due to pandemics and also addresses some of the aspects of upcoming approaches. The healthcare sector is the one sector that is on-demand since this COVID-19 pandemic raised. During the initial period, there was disruption of various services provided by the health care sector due to supply chain management issues and reduction in demand by consumers, quarantine, and lockdown period. The healthcare workers also confronted a huge challenge due to the increased number of cases and shortage of amenities and safety measures. This significantly affected even COVID-19 patients and the general public suffering from other diseases. To fight this issue, research and development (RandD) in pharmaceutical industries with great efforts to explore molecules and save many lives. Gradually innovative ways to strengthen and combat pandemics started emerging. Numeral ways and rules were adopted to prevent, diagnose and cure the disease. Artificial intelligence technology has emerged as one of the boons to address many of the unresolved or time-consuming mysteries. All the divisions of health care sectors have started working more efficiently with adopted new strategies to face future challenges.


foresight ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Demetris Vrontis ◽  
Hani El Chaarani ◽  
Zouhour El Abiad ◽  
Sam El Nemar ◽  
Alissar Yassine Haddad

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reveal the impact of dynamic managerial innovative capabilities on the competitive advantage (CA), financial performance (FP) and non-financial performance (NFP) of the health-care sector during the very turbulent Covid-19 pandemic period. The focus is on human behavior and personnel interaction in the hospitals that receive Covid-19 cases. Design/methodology/approach Data for this research was collected from the medical sector in Lebanon. The authors approached 14 public hospitals and 60 private hospitals for the study and only 48 hospitals (total of 284 respondents) accepted to complete the survey and provide data using a structured questionnaire. Findings This study reveals the moderating impact of CA on the relationship between dynamic managerial innovative capabilities and the performance of the health-care sector. Based on 48 Lebanese health-care centers during the Covid-19 pandemic, the results of the structural equation modeling model indicate that dynamic managerial innovative practices positively impact on CA and NFP. The results also reveal that CA has a moderating effect on the relationship between dynamic managerial innovative practices and NFP. Practical implications This study does not reveal any direct or indirect relationship between managerial capabilities and FP during the pandemic. Originality/value As the world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, the health-care sector needs new approaches and methods for confronting the constantly evolving and turbulent environment. This study examines how health-care leaders are dealing with these dynamic challenges and tests a three-dimensional SEM model of dynamic managerial capabilities (sensing, seizing and reconfiguration) that impact CA.


Author(s):  
Marc Jacquinet ◽  
Henrique Curado ◽  
Ângela Lacerda Nobre ◽  
Maria José Sousa ◽  
Marco Arraya ◽  
...  

There is a growing literature on health and health care dedicated to empowerment of patients; but there is still a gap in the literature to conceptualize knowledge, to extend the discussion of the empowerment of the patients to the stakeholders. The discussion is at the level of managerial processes of empowerment and knowledge management related to health care. The present chapter starts with a review on empowerment, especially focused on the health sector. The following sections will develop a critical analysis of empowerment, mainly around the concept of tacit knowledge (Polanyi) and knowledge management. One key variable is the proximity of the actors involved in the empowerment process. This key variable is very much related to the tacitness issue of knowledge production and flows. The chapter extends the discussion of the empowerment of the patients to that of the stakeholders and the general debate about health literacy. A model is briefly described for the purpose of illustrating the learning process in a knowledge management implemented in health care.


Author(s):  
Marc Jacquinet ◽  
Henrique Curado ◽  
Ângela Lacerda Nobre ◽  
Maria José Sousa ◽  
Marco Arraya ◽  
...  

There is a growing literature on health and health care dedicated to empowerment of patients; but there is still a gap in the literature to conceptualize knowledge, to extend the discussion of the empowerment of the patients to the stakeholders. The discussion is at the level of managerial processes of empowerment and knowledge management related to health care. The present chapter starts with a review on empowerment, especially focused on the health sector. The following sections will develop a critical analysis of empowerment, mainly around the concept of tacit knowledge (Polanyi) and knowledge management. One key variable is the proximity of the actors involved in the empowerment process. This key variable is very much related to the tacitness issue of knowledge production and flows. The chapter extends the discussion of the empowerment of the patients to that of the stakeholders and the general debate about health literacy. A model is briefly described for the purpose of illustrating the learning process in a knowledge management implemented in health care.


2019 ◽  
pp. 314-338
Author(s):  
Marc Jacquinet ◽  
Henrique Curado ◽  
Ângela Lacerda Nobre ◽  
Maria José Sousa ◽  
Marco Arraya ◽  
...  

There is a growing literature on health and health care dedicated to empowerment of patients; but there is still a gap in the literature to conceptualize knowledge, to extend the discussion of the empowerment of the patients to the stakeholders. The discussion is at the level of managerial processes of empowerment and knowledge management related to health care. The present chapter starts with a review on empowerment, especially focused on the health sector. The following sections will develop a critical analysis of empowerment, mainly around the concept of tacit knowledge (Polanyi) and knowledge management. One key variable is the proximity of the actors involved in the empowerment process. This key variable is very much related to the tacitness issue of knowledge production and flows. The chapter extends the discussion of the empowerment of the patients to that of the stakeholders and the general debate about health literacy. A model is briefly described for the purpose of illustrating the learning process in a knowledge management implemented in health care.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 918-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Greaney

This essay questions the wisdom of adherence to an indulgent approach to vertical integration in health care. It first critiques the bases for antitrust law's traditional tolerance of vertical integration and describes contemporary economic learning that supports more robust antitrust enforcement. It goes on to dispute arguments urging extra caution in dealing with the health care sector and concludes with several justifications for close scrutiny of vertical health sector mergers.


Author(s):  
Anzhela V. Meshcheryakova ◽  
Andrey P. Mazurenko

The article deals with issues of combating corruption in the health sector. The authors note that the level of corruption in general and in the healthcare sector, in particular, continues to grow. The main reasons causing corruption crimes in the mentioned area are analysed among which, the low level of income and social protection of health care workers stand out; the stratification of Russian health care "for the rich", "middle class" and "for the poor"; corporate solidarity of medical workers in concealing corruption in the health sector; forced participation of citizens in the corruption of health care, etc. The authors propose anti-corruption tools, one of which may be digitalisation and the effective use of medical information systems and technologies. In their opinion, digitalisation in the field of healthcare should lead to the complete satisfaction of the population’s need for medical care, its optimisation, quality improvement and cost reduction, and, accordingly, more effective anti-corruption efforts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (S19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prosper Tumusiime ◽  
Humphrey Karamagi ◽  
Regina Titi-Ofei ◽  
Michelle Amri ◽  
Aminata Binetou Wahebine Seydi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The recent 2018 Declaration of Astana recognized primary health care (PHC) as a means to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following this declaration, country progress on operationalization of the PHC agenda and attainment of UHC has been stalled by the new challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has also disrupted the continuity of essential health service provision and tested the resilience of the region’s health systems. Methods In accordance with this, the WHO Regional Office for Africa convened the Fifth Health Sector Directors’ Planning and Policy Meeting across the 47 Member States of the Region. The two-day forum focused on building health system resilience to facilitate service continuity during health threats, PHC revitalization, and health systems strengthening towards UHC. Results The Regional Forum provided evidence on building resilient health systems in the WHO African Region and engaged participants in meaningful and critical discussion. It is from these discussions that four key themes emerged: (1) working multisectorally/intersectorally, (2) moving from fragmentation to integration, (3) ensuring implementation and knowledge exchange, and (4) rethinking resilience and embracing antifragility. These discussions and associated groupings by thematic areas lend themselves to recommendations for the WHO. Conclusions This paper details the proceedings and key findings on building resilient health systems, the four themes that emerged from participant deliberation, and the recommendations that have emerged from the meeting. Deliberations from the Regional Forum are critical, as they have the potential to directly inform policy and program design, given that the meeting convenes health sector technocrats, who are at the helm of policy design, action, and implementation.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Maran ◽  
Alan Lowe

PurposeThis paper reports an investigation of a hybrid ex-state-owned enterprise (ex-SOE) providing ICT (Information and Communication Technology) services in the Italian healthcare sector (in-house provision). The authors aim to offer a framing that reflects the concerns expressed in the interdisciplinary literature on hybrid SOEs from management, public administration and, more recently, accounting.Design/methodology/approachThis study operationalizes Besharov and Smith’s (2014) theoretical model on multiple logics to analyze institutional structures and organizational outcomes at an ICT in-house provider. It builds on extensive textual analysis of regulatory, archival, survey and interview data.FindingsThe study results show that the combination of hybridity in the form of layering of multiple logics in the health care sector (Polzer et al., 2016) creates problems for the effectiveness of ICT provision. In particular, the hybrid organization the authors study remained stuck in established competing relationships despite a restructure of regional health care governance. The study findings also reflect on the design of organizational control mechanisms when balancing different logics.Research limitations/implicationsThe identified case-study accountability practices and performance system add to the debate on hybrid organizations in the case of ex-SOEs and facilitate the understanding and management of hybrids in the public sector. The authors note policymaking implications.Originality/valueThe authors’ operationalization of Besharov and Smith's (2014) model adds clarity to key elements of their model, notably how to identify evidence in order to disentangle notions of centrality and compatibility. By doing this, the authors’ analysis offers potential insights into both managerial design and policy prescription. The authors provide cautionary tales around institutional reorganization regarding the layered synthesis of logics within these organizations.


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