Joint Venture Healthcare System as Common Practice in Developing Countries: Game Changing on Assessing Health Services.

BACKGROUND: To explore the essence of game changing on applying joint venture (JV) approach for healthcare system improvement in developing countries. METHODS: This is cross-sectional study exploring the factors influencing the successful implementation of JV for the healthcare services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The study included: Qatar Statistical Authority, CIA fact book, Ministry of Health Annual Report, Hamad Medical Corporation Annual Report, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development information, and Qatar's healthcare system history. RESULTS: The research indicated that the LMIC healthcare system would benefit from affiliation with leading technology partner for healthcare reform. The findings support the view of LMIC healthcare systems' needs to incorporate joint venture approach in implementing JV concept for process improvement and knowledge transfer to contribute in country economic growth, development, and stability. Current study explored evidence supporting decision maker and management control of JV trends in different ways in comparison with developed countries. JV can also help the organization to share the risk and cost of large capital investment. CONCLUSIONS: The present study supports observations on expending the use of JVs as approach for improvement in LMIC healthcare system. The current study confirmed the advantages of JV which include helping businesses grow faster, increasing productivity, and generating greater profits, both parties sharing the risks and costs, accessing new markets and distribution networks.

Health services management in Qatar.

AIM: To assess health care delivery system in the State of Qatar and audit it according to the Joint Commission International (JCI) standard. METHODS: The data for this retrospective descriptive study were taken from the Annual Health Report of the National Health Authority and Hamad Medical Corporation and various additional sources like World Health Organization reports, Annual Report of Saudi Arabia, and Compendium of Health Statistics, UK. Population per physician, per general practitioner, and per hospital bed, and nurses per physician ratio were calculated. RESULTS: In 2008, the population per physician in Qatar was 444; the population per general practitioner (GP) was 949; the population per hospital bed was 716; and nurses per physician ratio was 2.6. During the last decade, the population of Qatar has more than doubled, which has resulted in a similar increase in the number of health care providers; moreover, many initiatives launched in cooperation with internationally recognized institutions have greatly improved the quality of the health service. The weighted mean number of visits for 100 population was calculated for the UK and Qatar, taking into consideration the difference in age and sex structure. After comparison with the UK data, population/GP ratio for Qatar should be 1193. CONCLUSION: The Qatar health system has improved in the last decade, but there is still the need for more medical workers in primary health care.