One of the crucial performance objectives of the government and government agencies is to achieve the desired level of health. The public health sector at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital is a crucial function that has been entrusted to the hospital administration. However, the level of preparedness in managing this important …
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One of the crucial performance objectives of the government and government agencies is to achieve the desired level of health. The public health sector at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital is a crucial function that has been entrusted to the hospital administration. However, the level of preparedness in managing this important function is below par. Many complaints from staff working in public health facilities and the public themselves revolve around financial issues. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of financial management practices on service delivery in public health facilities at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital. Specifically, the study examines the effect of resource mobilization, budgeting, and financial accountability on service delivery. The study is guided by both stakeholder and agency theories.A descriptive survey design is adopted for this study. The study population consists of 223 finance and management staff working in public health facilities at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital. A sample of 72 respondents is obtained using a combination of purposeful and stratified random sampling techniques. Data collection is done through a structured questionnaire, which is pilot-tested to ensure validity and reliability. The collected data is analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the assistance of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 24 analytical tool. Descriptive statistics include measures of distribution, central tendencies, and variation, while inferential statistics include Spearman rank correlation coefficient and multiple regression.The null hypotheses are tested at a 95% confidence level. The results of the analysis are presented in tables. The study finds that the relationship between revenue mobilization and service delivery is positive, weak, and statistically not significant. Similarly, the relationship between budgeting and service delivery is positive, weak, and statistically not significant. However, the study establishes a positive, moderately strong, and statistically significant relationship between financial accountability and service delivery. The studied financial management practices are able to explain 40.7% of service delivery.The study concludes that revenue mobilization and budgeting are not substantively crucial in healthcare delivery at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital. However, financial accountability is significantly important in the delivery of health services. The study recommends that public health facilities streamline the charges levied on patients, have flexible budgets, and consider specific criteria during budgeting. It is also advised to implement effective and reliable accountability mechanisms, financial controls, internal controls, and audit trails to ensure sound financial management practices.
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