The Public Hospital as an Health Institution

Health care constitutes an integral part of human endeavors. Almost every human activity is hinged on health. Productivity which is a vital aspect of national development also depends on the state of health care services and health status of its citizens. Standard of health care and accessibility to same is a key factor in attaining high life expectancy rates. Expectedly, governments place prompt attention on issues pertaining to health in terms of provision of infrastructures, research, medicare and personnel. Despite the fact that the place of the public hospital as a health institution to deliver affordable and accessible health care services cannot be disputed, the cost of providing basic minimum levels of health care and maintaining health facilities in Nigeria seems to be spiraling out of control beyond the reach of Government. This paper will examine the centrality of the hospital as a health institution with emphasis on its importance in the health care system, its roles, classifications and functions. The constituents and problems of public (federal government owned) hospitals in Nigeria will also be outlined. The Implications of these for health care delivery and methods for evaluating the effectiveness of hospitals will also be mentioned. With the state of the economy and the need to optimize diverse resources, Government needs to rethink its present role in terms of promoting and incentivizing public-private partnership in the health sector for the maximum benefit of stakeholders and the generality of Nigerians.