Abstract
Public laboratory services are critical primary health care delivery structure, especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities. The study sought to investigate the degree of client satisfaction, operational problems, and governance issues associated with the provision of public lab services offered through Rural Health Units (RHU) in Tarlac City in the Philippines. The study employed an evaluative research approach of the descriptive type and specifically collected data from 130 participants who comprised 100 clients and 30 personnel of Rural Health Units. The study made important observations and conclusions. It identified an exceptionally good level of client satisfaction regarding urinalysis, fecalysis, and blood typing. The study made observations and conclusions on operational problems including waiting times and operational problems in lab equipment and personnel. The discussion of research study’s conclusions and observations draws key-post UHC reforms on primary health care delivery. The study concludes that operational inefficiencies can be identified despite high levels of client satisfaction. Very important themes are associated with the study’s conclusions and observations. Primary health care delivery is important within the pos-UHC reforms.
Keywords: public laboratory services, Rural Health Units, client satisfaction, primary health care, public administration
https://doi.org/10.65494/pinagpalapublishing.56