Inventory management techniques and service delivery in public hospitals in Uganda :

Abstract

This study intended to find out the effect of Inventory Management Techniques on Service Delivery in Public Hospitals in Uganda, particularly Pallisa General Hospital. Inventory Management Techniques was viewed in three dimensional constructs consisting of Inventory Analysis Techniques, Inventory Control Techniques and Inventory Counting Techniques. Service delivery on the other hand was viewed in terms of Customer satisfaction, Timely Delivery and Cost Reduction. The study used cross sectional research design and quantitative approach. Data was collected from 32 respondents, a sample obtained using Simple Random Sampling out of a population of 35, comprising of senior management, Stores department staff, Outpatient staff, pharmacy staff and accounts department staff members of the hospital. Data was collected using a closed end questionnaire and statistical package of social science was used for analysing data from which frequency tables, descriptive statistics, reliability, validity, correlation and regression results were obtained. The findings of the study revealed that there is a positive and significant effect between Inventory Analysis Techniques, Inventory Control Techniques and Inventory Counting Techniques on Service Delivery. Therefore, the study recommends that in order for public hospitals to improve on service delivery, the employees should be trained and have refreshers pertaining inventory management techniques.