A comparison of managerial practices in public and private hospitals in Lubumbashi: towards differentiated performance in health services: The case of the Jason Sendwe Provincial Tertiary Referral Hospital and the Afia Don Bosco Polyclinic

Abstract

The performance of health services depends largely on the managerial practices implemented. This study aims to compare management practices between a public hospital (Jason Sendwe) and a private polyclinic (Afia Don Bosco) in Lubumbashi, in order to assess their impact on the overall performance of health services.

A comparative, quantitative study was conducted at two healthcare facilities. Eight key management and performance indicators were assessed using a questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale. The means were compared using Student’s t-test for independent samples.

Of the eight indicators assessed, only the quality of care showed a statistically significant difference in favour of the private sector (mean = 3.33 vs 3.07; t = 2.491; p = 0.015). Waiting times also tended to be shorter in the private sector (p ≈ 0.05). No other indicator (patient satisfaction, efficiency, training, culture, autonomy) showed a significant difference.

The results suggest that private hospitals may perform better in terms of quality of care, probably due to better internal organisation and more rigorous monitoring. However, patient satisfaction appears to be slightly higher in the public sector, although the difference is not statistically significant. The lack of marked differences in other areas indicates a gradual convergence of managerial practices between the two sectors in Lubumbashi.

Keywords: Management practices, hospital performance, public hospital, private clinic, Lubumbashi.

Received Date: June 19, 2026

Accepted Date: July 10, 2026

Published Date: August 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/904