Human resources utilisation and job satisfaction in health care institutions

There is wide variation in density of human resource use by private health care institutions. Part of this variation could be due to errors in data. But lack of any staffing norms for private health care institution could be responsible for the wide variation. About 20% of private clinics operate without any staff. Another 40% operate with full time staff. The rest use both full and part time staff. Most clinics operate with less than 10 full or part time personnel. Most hospitals employ more than five full time personnel. About 40-60% all private HCIs use part time staff, mostly specialists. About 25% of small private hospitals and 10% of big private hospitals reported that specialists working in government institutions offer consultation in their hospital. This may be an underestimate of government doctors practicing in private hospitals.

About 70% of more owner managers of private HCIs informed that they did not face various human resource related problems. Among the HR problems often encountered by private HCIs, non availability of skilled manpower, absenteeism and low productivity were reported more often.

Job satisfaction related questions to health care professionals like doctors and nurses revealed that expectations about the work content is quite similar among HCPs working in private and public sector. HCPs in the public sector are a little more likely to expect challenge in their work. But in other job aspects, namely supervision, salary, and promotion HCPs in public sector had clearly much higher expectation compared to those working in private sector. About 10-15% HCPs regarded political influence or corruption as important characteristic of an ideal job. No difference in expectations of HCPs, in private and public sector, regarding political influence or bribing as a means of career advancement.

The private sector appears to be better in job aspects like (a) tools and plants to practice their skills, (b) good income, (c) training opportunities, (d) good physical facilities, (e) better supervisor, (f) desirable location and (g) time for family life. The level of professional satisfaction with respect to physical working conditions tools and materials for practice, was found to be particularly low in big public hospitals and PHCs.