Determinants of Inventory Management in Public Hospitals in Mombasa County, Kenya

Abstract

Sound inventory control and management facilitate several actions and desired results that would increase the performance level of an organization to great heights.  This study sought to investigate the determinants of effective inventory management in public hospitals in Mombasa County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to determine the effects of information technology, material handling, staff competencies, and storage facilities on inventory management. The study was guided by Resource Based View Theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample size for the study was 41 members of staff from Public Hospitals. The study established that increase in the staff competencies and storage facility results in an increase in effective inventory management. Further, increase in information technology and materials handling results in a decrease in effective inventory management. The study recommended that public hospitals should consider both academic qualification and experience in hiring its staff, automating material handling techniques to enhance the safety of materials, and must ensure maximum security and safety of stores and hospitals at large. Top management in public hospitals must embrace and attain the required standards of knowledge on matters of inventory control and management. The hospital management and leadership must and should embrace the use of technology to enhance most effective and efficient delivery of services to the public.