Role of Participation and Consensus on Projects’ Performance in Public Sector Health Care in Peshawar

Abstract

This exploratory research examines how good governance practices, specifically participation and consensus, affect the performance of projects in the public health sector hospitals of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The current study represents a crucial addition to a series of research focused on the healthcare sector that aims to highlight the influence of good governance on the performance of healthcare projects. This study analyzes three essential health programs in the KP province: Sehat Card, Insulin D-Talk, and RBC. A sample of 121 staff members from projects was obtained through simple random sampling, including representatives from project planning, monitoring bodies, and implementation agencies, such as administrators, project leaders, hospital department heads, doctors, and various project personnel. Quantitative data regarding the prevalence, frequency, and perceived effectiveness of the governance practices under consideration were gathered through standardized questionnaires. Findings indicate that participation and a consensus-driven approach significantly shape project results, demonstrating strong performance across the examined initiatives. Importantly, this research is the first to employ an international evaluation standard to measure the effectiveness of healthcare projects in Pakistan. The principles of good governance set forth by the UNDP were applied to investigate their impact on the performance of these healthcare initiatives. The study's recommendations were directed at policymakers, healthcare managers, and project directors to enhance governance practices and project efficacy. To enhance stakeholder involvement throughout the entire process, especially in decision-making, it is essential to establish advisory panels that include patients, staff, and community members to gather their insights. Expanding this study to cover additional provinces and urban and rural areas would help identify regional healthcare challenges and governance practices. A longitudinal approach could track governance model evolution and long-term healthcare impacts while including private sector insights that would enhance understanding of governance efficiency and care standards.