Efficient Utilization Of Scarce Resources Research Articles

Vertical accountability among ministries of state in an emerging economy: A case study of Ghana

Since 1992, Ghana has implemented several initiatives and reforms such as the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACAP), Right to Information (RTI) Act, Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) with the goal of improving accountability while reducing corruption. These policies provide researchers with a lot of opportunities to examine how effective these programs have been as well as their impact on accountability. Hence, the present study seeks to accomplish three main objectives: 1) to explore the factors that facilitate vertical accountability; 2) to explore the limitations to vertical accountability; and 3) to investigate the benefits of vertical accountability in Ghana. To accomplish these objectives, we interviewed twenty directors in seven ministries of state and ten experts across civil society and academia in Ghana. We found that the disclosure of financial income, assets, and interest, the Right to Information (RTI) Act; merit-based recruitment, proper record keeping, performance-based evaluation, training and development, the absence of corruption, and conflicts of interest are major drivers of vertical accountability in Ghana. Additionally, we found that the presence of corruption, nepotism/patron-clientelism, conflict of interest, a lack of political commitment and participation, inadequate resources, and weak complaint and accountability mechanisms limit vertical accountability. Finally, the benefits of vertical accountability include improvements in openness and fairness, effective and efficient utilization of scarce resources, integrity, and trust. These results were extensively discussed, while recommendations for future studies were proffered.

Cost study of three selected laboratory investigations at different levels of healthcare institutions in Western Province, Sri Lanka

<strong>Introduction:</strong> The cost of laboratory services has become a challenge for continuing free healthcare in developing countries like Sri Lanka. <strong> </strong> <strong>Objectives:</strong> To undertake cost estimation and cost comparison of three selected laboratory investigations at different levels of healthcare institutions in the Western Province. <strong> </strong> <strong>Methodology:</strong> A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from May 2019 to July 2019. The analysis was based on secondary data collected from Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital Colombo (LRH), Base Hospital Horana (BHH), and Divisional Hospital Bandaragama (DHB), during the study period. The cost analysis was performed using the step-down method. <strong> </strong> <strong>Results:</strong> Total cost of FBC, CRP, and UFR tests were calculated, and compared among three hospitals. The total cost of FBC in the LRH, BHH, and DHB was Rs.301.16, Rs.255.19, and Rs.380.83 respectively. The total cost of CRP in those hospitals was Rs.264.46, Rs.237.70, and Rs.85.63 while the total cost of UFR was Rs.130.21, Rs.126.42, and Rs.81.83 respectively. <strong> </strong> <strong>Discussion:</strong> The highest cost of FBC as revealed by this study was in DHB. It comprised of a high equipment cost per test. Though the LRH possesses a high-tech hematology analyzer, the higher volume of investigations done makes the equipment cost less per test in the LRH. The cost of testing CRP, in the order of highest to lowest, was in the LRH, BHH, and DHB. The reason for the lowest cost of CRP in DHB can be attributable to the non-usage of reagents and less equipment cost due to manual handling. The cost of UFR was comparatively low in DHB. It can be due to the contribution of low salary cost and low cleaning service cost because of less human resource usage. Conclusion This study reveals that the lower a hospital in the hospital hierarchy the cost of investigations tends to increase. This can be attributable to the fact that the number of investigations done is relatively less in smaller hospitals. At macro economical level, this is a challenge to the efficient utilization of scarce resources. <strong> </strong> <strong>Recommendation:</strong> In keeping with the primary health care reforms, it is proposed to channel investigations from primary medical care units to divisional hospitals. Thereby utilization of investigative equipment could be optimized.

A Review of Workplace Conflicts and Employee Performance in Tamale Metropolitan Assembly of Northern Region, Ghana

The study investigated the effects of workplace conflict on employee performance at the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly from where a sample of 194 was drawn. The study adopted descriptive research design. Data was collected with questionnaires, analyzed with SPSS version 26 and the results presented in tables, interpreted and discussed. Results showed that workplace conflicts in TMA were largely interpersonal. Poor communication was rated the highest cause of the conflicts. Negative effects of the conflicts include: reduction of morale of workers, creation of tension and anxiety that weakens abilities of employees to work well, lack of essential information needed for effective job delivery, delayed delivery of assignments and project failures. Positive outcomes of the conflicts are that: they increase employees’ creativity and innovation towards doing things, strengthen bonds and improve relationships when well-managed, they bring on board effective and efficient utilization of scarce resources in the Assembly emanating from best decisions. The study concluded that the overall effect of conflicts in TMA on employees’ performance is negative; resulting in non-optimization of employees’ output. The study recommended that the Assembly should allow free flow of information by improving communication to establish problems facing employees and to promptly address them. Keywords: Organization, Workplace, Conflicts, Performance, Outcomes DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-16-01 Publication date: August 31 st 2022

Phases of psychological response in COVID-19: A preliminary heuristic.

To explore the putative phases of the psychological response to disaster: preimpact, impact, heroic, honeymoon, disillusionment, and recovery, and make recommendations for corresponding interventions. Disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic are often characterized by chaos and uncertainty. As a result, public health disaster planning and response represent formidable challenges. Although disasters can result from a wide array of hazards, regardless of the agent at work, they may follow a rather predictable trajectory of psychological phases. A heuristic of those phases can provide an opportunity for a more organized disaster mental health response and more efficient utilization of scarce resources.

The Egyptian health map: a guide for evidence-based decisionmaking.

The Egyptian health system is characterized by the multiple entities in charge of service regulation, financing and provision. Moreover, health outcomes in Egypt mirror epidemiologic transition; increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and persistent high levels of selected communicable diseases (CDs) place a huge financial burden on the health system's limited resources. This together with financial inefficiencies aggravate inequality in health services coverage and health outcomes. We aimed to map and link health services with key health outcomes to support efficient utilization of scarce resources and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Data on health services and health outcomes were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Population and key national surveys for the year 2014. Data on health services' availability and coverage were compared in different geographical regions. Correlation analysis was used to test the relation between selected service availability indicators and mortality rates from key NCDs. There was a high coverage of key maternal and child health services. However, there was in general low achievement of national targets for service availability as well as wide geographical disparities. Cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of death and there was a marked reduction in the incidence of major CDs in Egypt, particularly vaccine preventable diseases. Wide geographical disparities and increased burden of NCDs and their risk factors are identified as key challenges facing the healthcare system in Egypt. Priority setting in the light of these findings is crucial to support national efforts to attain health equity and UHC.

Egyptian Health Map: A Road for Evidence-Based Decision Making

Background and context: Egyptian health system is characterized by the multiple entities in charge of service regulation, financing and provision. In addition, health outcomes in Egypt mirror epidemiologic transition; with increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and persistent high levels of selected communicable diseases (CDs), which put a huge financial burden on the health system's limited resources. This together with financial inefficiencies aggravates inequality in health services coverage and health outcomes. Aim: We aimed to map and link health services with key health outcomes to support efficient utilization of scarce resources and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Program/Policy process: Data on health services and health outcomes were obtained from Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) and key national surveys. Data on health services' availability and coverage were compared in the different geographical regions. Correlation analysis was used to test “the relation” between selected service availability indicators and mortality rates from key NCDs and MMR. Outcomes: There was generally poor achievement of service availability national targets with wide geographical disparities. Cardiovascular diseases and cancers were the leading causes of death. There was a significant correlation between mortality from key NCDs and service availability indicators. Key risk factors such as tobacco use, obesity and high blood pressure are on the rise which was particularly evident among women. What was learned: Wide geographical disparities and increased burden of NCDs and their risk factors are identified as key challenges facing the health care system in Egypt. Priority setting in the light of these findings is crucial to support national efforts to attain health equity and UHC.

Cancellations of elective surgical procedures performed at a Teaching Hospital in North-West Nigeria

Background: Cancellation of cases on the scheduled day of surgery leads to inefficient utilization of operating theater space, waste of valuable workforce, and scarce resources for patients and hospitals. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and reasons for cancellations of elective surgical procedures done at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken by reviewing the list of all patients whose names appeared on the routine elective surgical operation lists in the Surgical Departments of the hospital, from January to September 2012. The list of those whose surgeries were cancelled was compiled. A sample of 200 cases (determined using appropriate formula, n = z 2 pq/d 2 ) were selected by stratified sampling technique with proportionate allocation. The demographic data, diagnosis, specialty of surgery, proposed surgery, and reasons for cancellation were extracted and analyzed. Results: A total of 2355 cases were booked for elective surgeries during the study. Out the 200 sample selected for the study, 97 were cancelled for various reasons giving a cancellation rate of 48.5%. Overall, Obstetrics and Gynecology accounted for the highest number of cases booked 27.5% (55 out of 200) and cancelled 27.8% (27 out of 97); and had the highest cancellation rate of 49.1% (27 out of 55). The most common reason for the cancellation was a patient factor (60.8%) arising from patient absconding from surgery for personal reasons not communicated to the surgeons, and lack of funds to pay for surgery. Conclusion: The prevalence of cancellation of elective cases on the scheduled day of surgery is still high in our hospital. Most of the causes of the cancellations are due to patient-related factors which are preventable and avoidable. Avoidance of unnecessary cancellations of cases is an important way of ensuring efficient utilization of scarce resources. Adequate counseling before, during, and after elective surgical procedures in our setting is highly recommended.

Plasticity of rhizosphere hydraulic properties as a key for efficient utilization of scarce resources.

It is known that the soil near roots, the so-called rhizosphere, has physical and chemical properties different from those of the bulk soil. Rhizosphere properties are the result of several processes: root and soil shrinking/swelling during drying/wetting cycles, soil compaction by root growth, mucilage exuded by root caps, interaction of mucilage with soil particles, mucilage shrinking/swelling and mucilage biodegradation. These processes may lead to variable rhizosphere properties, i.e. the presence of air-filled gaps between soil and roots; water repellence in the rhizosphere caused by drying of mucilage around the soil particles; or water accumulation in the rhizosphere due to the high water-holding capacity of mucilage. The resulting properties are not constant in time but they change as a function of soil condition, root growth rate and mucilage age. We consider such a variability as an expression of rhizosphere plasticity, which may be a strategy for plants to control which part of the root system will have a facilitated access to water and which roots will be disconnected from the soil, for instance by air-filled gaps or by rhizosphere hydrophobicity. To describe such a dualism, we suggest classifying rhizosphere into two categories: class A refers to a rhizosphere covered with hydrated mucilage that optimally connects roots to soil and facilitates water uptake from dry soils. Class B refers to the case of air-filled gaps and/or hydrophobic rhizosphere, which isolate roots from the soil and may limit water uptake from the soil as well water loss to the soil. The main function of roots covered by class B will be long-distance transport of water. This concept has implications for soil and plant water relations at the plant scale. Root water uptake in dry conditions is expected to shift to regions covered with rhizosphere class A. On the other hand, hydraulic lift may be limited in regions covered with rhizosphere class B. New experimental methods need to be developed and applied to different plant species and soil types, in order to understand whether such dualism in rhizosphere properties is an important mechanism for efficient utilization of scarce resources and drought tolerance.

Assessment of Household Energy Utilization in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

AbstractThe critical energy situation in Nigeria suggests the need to study energy and exergy utilization in households, with the aim of pinpointing areas of waste and suggesting alternative measures for effective and efficient utilization of scarce resources. Household energy and exergy consumption trends are thus simulated in this study by considering 125 homes randomly selected in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. The energy flow for the first three months of 2009 was evaluated using both primary and secondary data. The results show that average efficiency of household energy and exergy utilization are 62.5 and 21%, respectively. Furthermore, approximately 32% of total exergy losses are caused by refrigerator-freezers, followed by air conditioners (30.0%), lighting from bulbs (16.2%), ironing (5.0%), and fluorescent light (3.7%). Other appliances accounted for less than 2.0%. This study provides fundamental guidelines and baseline data for policymakers in Nigeria on sustainable energy policy measures that ...

Operational Performance Analysis of a Public Hospital Laboratory

Efficient utilization of scarce resources is an issue for any healthcare system. In developing countries, proper tools, techniques, and resources must be widely used in healthcare operational planning. Considering the necessity of effective resource planning, this study focuses on the rural healthcare system of Bangladesh and concentrates on the sub-district government hospital laboratory. The authors’ determine possible ways to improve operations of laboratory facilities. To analyze existing system efficiency, sample laboratory data is fed into a simulation model. This paper identifies several possible ways for future expansion and suggests using simulation for better planning and analysis.

'n Model vir fasette van strategiese beplanning vir inligtingstelsels in organisasies

The key to success for the information-system function in an organisation is an efficient planning system. According to Head (1967, 23) managers are classified in levels of strategic planning, management control and operational control. Managers on these levels are respectively responsible for long, medium and short term planning. The information-system function is compatable with other organizational functions. Like other organizational functions it also consists of managerial levels which has to plan for the effective and efficient utilization of scarce resources. In this research project data has been collected from top and middle managers of two large financial institutions in South Africa. Models were developed to assist management in their task of strategic long and medium term planning of the information-system function.