Availability and Readiness Assessment of Facilities with Hospital Admission Capacity in Two Regions of Guinea-Bissau

Abstract

Introduction: The weaknesses of Guinea-Bissau’s health system have long been highlighted. The purpose of this study is to contribute with evidence for decision-making on the reform of the country’s healthcare map, by analyzing the availability and readiness of services at the facilities that may become part of a Hospital Complex in Bissau, proposed in the National Health Development Plan.
Material and Methods: We analyzed 13 public and private facilities with inpatient capacity, located in Bissau and Biombo. Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) tools were used for data collection, treatment and analysis.
Results: A comprehensive overview of these facilities has been provided, describing their general capacity to provide care and their readiness to implement it, along with the availability and readiness of specific services: diagnosis, family planning, mother and child health, obstetrics, communicable and non communicable diseases, blood transfusion and surgery. We observed a greater concentration of beds and professionals in the facilities of public sector, the only that provides all the specific services analyzed. Private sector services with agreements to supply the public sector have higher readiness levels and the private sector has the lowest operating capacity.
Discussion: Findings reflect the lack of equipment, infrastructure and resources, the predominance of the public sector and the growth of the private for-profit and non-profit sectors, as well as inadequacies in planning and regulation. Similarities and differences between our findings and those described in the literature for other African countries are identified.
Conclusion: This study reinforces the relevance of developing integrated and rational responses of health services and provides evidence for this.