Capacity Utilization of Private Healthcare Facilities in Nigeria: Comparative Study of Anambra, Lagos and Ondo States

Abstract

Background:Healthcare facility capacity utilization is a concept which refers to the extent which a healthcare facility actually uses its installed productive capacity. It refers to the relationship between actual output that is produced with the installed resources and the potential output which could be produced with these resources, if capacity is fully used. Healthcare capacity utilization in private healthcare facilities in Nigeria has been studied and published. The finding is that the facilities are grossly underutilized. There are 36 states and a Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria. The states are not equal in population and do not run exactly similar healthcare delivery systems. These differences could affect the capacity utilization rates.

Objective:The objective of this study is to determine if the capacity utilization rates are the same for some selected states and the factors that affect the differences in the rates if any.

Materials and method:Capacity utilization of private healthcare facilities in Nigeria was published in this journal in March 2013. Data on bed occupancy, deliveries, surgeries, laboratory tests and ultra sound scans for Anambra, Lagos and Ondo states were extracted and analysed. The states were chosen because of differences in their populations and healthcare delivery systems. The analysis was done manually. z test was used to detect differences in proportions of parameters measured.

Results:All 3 states studied have grossly underutilized bed occupancy capacity. Lagos and Ondo were more grossly underutilized than Anambra State. Though delivery capacity in the 3 states was grossly underutilized, Ondo state was significantly worse followed by Lagos and Anambra states, respectively. In surgery, capacity utilization rates were equal in Lagos and Ondo and both were significantly less than in Anambra state. In laboratory tests, again Ondo had the least capacity utilization followed by Lagos state and the best utilization was seen in Anambra state. In ultra sound scan, Ondo had the best utilization rate followed by Anambra state, while Lagos state had the least capacity utilization rate.

Conclusion: Capacity of private healthcare facilities in Anambra, Lagos and Ondo states was grossly underutilized. Ondo state was the worst grossly underutilized followed by Lagos state. Anambra state had the best utilization rates. Population does not seem to be important factors affecting differences in capacity utilization rates in the 3 states studied but free healthcare services do.

Key words: Utilization rate, gross underutilization rate, private healthcare facility.