What Drives Hospitals to Expand? A Case of Private Hospitals in Palawan, Philippines

• Main Author: Ulep, Valerie Gilbert T
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2015
• Subjects: financing; government policies; incentives; private hospitals; Health and Medical Administration
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/gsb-pubs/45; http://gsb.ateneo.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/op_no_8_-_what_drives_hospitals_to_expand.pdf
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

This comprehensive study aims to determine the different factors that motivate private hospitals in rural areas to expand their operation. The study was conducted in seven private hospitals in Palawan, Philippines. The study used key informant interviews to gather data on operations, finances, and other concerns affecting the viability and sustainability of the private hospitals covered. The results reveal that financing, government policies, human resources, and organizational issues, if addressed by the government, could serve as positive incentives to hospital owners and decision makers to further engage in the provision of health care services in rural areas. The results could provide useful information to policy makers in assessing the impact of existing government hospital regulations. Moreover, the study may also provide some insights on how the private sector can be harnessed to invest in health care, especially in rural and poor areas in the country.