Strategic Challenges in the Implementation of Universal Health Care Coverage in the Kibera Informal Settlement Slum, Nairobi City County

Abstract

A critical responsibility of strategic management theory and research is the improvement of institutional results. Practices around strategic management thus, are important to the management of public, private, and non-governmental organizations since they have a contribution to the sustenance of the environment. Government and its agencies the world over continue to implement traditions around strategic management with the sole aim of boosting the results of service delivery. This study revolves around two theories; 1) Resource Based View (RBV) theory and 2) Optimal Resource Allocation (ORA) theory. The main aim of this study was to investigate the strategic challenges in UHC implementation in the informal settlement in Kibera slums, Nairobi City County. Specifically, the study sought; to analyze the effect of ICT on implementation of universal health care coverage; to analyze how resource allocation influence on UHC implementation; to analyze the role of stakeholders’ engagement on implementation of universal health care coverage in the informal settlement in Kibera slums, Nairobi City County. The outcomes of this study, specifically the recommendations may enable private hospitals managers and stakeholders to comprehend how they can effectively manage the implementation of UHC. This study employed descriptive study design with employees in the public health institutions in Kibera slums targeted. Questionnaires were used in data collection. To run descriptive and inferential statistics, Social Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS,version 23.0) was used for quantitative data analysis. The study reported that resource allocation (r=0.380, p<0.00); stakeholders’ engagement (r=0.756, p<0.00); information communication technology (r=0.639, p<0.00); influence implementation of universal health care coverage in the informal settlement in Kibera slums, Nairobi City County. This study concluded that stakeholders play a crucial role UHC in health institutions and this has led to the achievement of the extensive and much needed support in the organization’s strategies implementation. Resource allocation is among the factors that affect implementation of UHC. Information Communication Technology improves delivery of services in. The study recommends that health institutions in Kibera slums should allocate substantial amount of financial resources in the budget for investment in ICT. Equity in resource distribution should be observed to enable workable UHC implementation. In order to ensure that strategic objectives, goals and targets are met leaders in the hospitals implementing UHC should motivate employees to ease UHC implementation.