Corporate Governance and Healthcare Service Delivery in National Government Referral Hospitals in Kenya.

Abstract

In recent years, effective corporate governance has gained increasing importance in enhancing healthcare service delivery (HSD), particularly within National Government Referral Hospitals (NGRHs) in Kenya. However, despite the adoption of corporate governance practices, significant challenges in the delivery of healthcare services persist, raising concerns about the effectiveness and implementation of these governance mechanisms. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of corporate governance on healthcare service delivery in NGRHs in Kenya and a corresponding hypothesis was formulated and tested. The study was theoretically grounded in Stakeholder Theory, Resource-Based View (RBV) Theory, and Contingency Theory. Collectively, these frameworks underscore the significance of leadership, transparency, stakeholder engagement, and the strategic optimization of resources in enhancing governance practices and improving service delivery outcomes. Using a positivist philosophy and a descriptive research design, the study targeted a sample of 199 hospital management respondents and 100 patients from National Government Referral Hospitals in Kenya. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and data collection sheets, ensuring validity and reliability through expert reviews and Cronbach’s Alpha. Statistical analyses, including descriptive analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis, were employed to test the hypotheses and assess the statistical significance of the effects.The results indicated that corporate governance exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on healthcare service delivery.