A Comparative Study of Public and Private Healthcare Services at the Community Level.

Abstract

This study aims to compare public and private healthcare services at the community level, focusing on service quality, accessibility, and patient satisfaction. The sample group included 370 general citizens, 133 healthcare professionals, and 44 hospital administrators, selected using stratified random sampling. Data collection was conducted through surveys and in-depth interviews, and the analysis employed descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test and ANOVA).

The findings reveal that private healthcare facilities scored significantly higher than public healthcare facilities in terms of service quality, particularly in medical technology, service efficiency, and hospital environment. However, the high cost of private healthcare services remains a major barrier, causing many individuals to prefer public healthcare despite long wait times and limited resources. Factors influencing patient satisfaction include quality of care, waiting time, cost, and accessibility.

Based on discussions and literature reviews, the SERVQUAL Model and Donabedian’s Structure-Process-Outcome framework provide a strong theoretical foundation for explaining the study’s results. Recommendations suggest that public healthcare should increase funding, reduce waiting times, and integrate modern technology to enhance service quality, while private healthcare providers should collaborate with the public sector to reduce financial burdens on citizens and improve healthcare accessibility.