Background: This study investigates the availability and workload of Human Resources for Health (HRH) at three major teaching hospitals in Sri Lanka: National Hospital Sri Lanka (NHSL), Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH), and Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH). Understanding these hospitals' operational capacities and efficiency is crucial for enhancing healthcare delivery.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data sources. Data extraction sheets were distributed to relevant hospital administrative personnel. The study analyzed bed strength, staff numbers, patient admissions, outpatient visits, and surgical throughput. Comparisons were made to evaluate efficiency and resource utilization across the three hospitals.Results: NHSL has the highest bed strength (3,321 beds), followed by CNTH (1,836 beds) and CSTH (1,242 beds). Bed occupancy rate was highest at NHSL at 75.76%, whereas CSTH and CNTH recorded 75.51% and 61.68%, respectively. Bed turnover was highest at CSTH (10.83/month), while the average length of stay was found to be lowest at CSTH (2.09 days). NHSL employs 1,135 doctors and 3,554 nurses, CSTH employs 537 doctors and 529 nurses, and CNTH employs 418 doctors and 607 nurses. NHSL handled the highest number of admissions and clinic patients, while CNTH had the highest number of clinic patients per doctor, indicating a higher operational efficiency but more significant strain on healthcare providers.Conclusions: NHSL, CSTH, and CNTH exhibit significant differences in operational capacities and efficiencies. To balance workload and improve healthcare outcomes, strategic resource management, enhanced staffing, and improved operational systems are recommended. Future studies should explore patient satisfaction and outcomes to improve policy decisions further.
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