Evaluating the Nature and Extent of Autonomy in Public Teaching Hospitals: A Case study

This study is aimed at evaluating the nature and the extent of Autonomy in Hospital Administration and Medical Care. Autonomy in administration means the freedom in deciding all the matters involved in the day-to-day running of the hospital and the discharge of the functions defined by the mission statement. Autonomy in Medical Care was meant to provide efficient services to patients at autonomous hospitals. The population of this study consists of top level administrative medical and non-medical staff of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. In this research design, Jinnah Hospital Lahore is selected as a single case and then multiple sub units of analysis are selected from top management of Jinnah Hospital Lahore to get information about nature and extent of autonomy. In this way with the support and cooperation of respondents, 14 top level administrative medical and non-medical staff members of Jinnah Hospital Lahore were interviewed. This study shows that autonomous hospital is not independent in making its decisions due to the increased role of health and finance department. Most of the matters concerning hospital administration and developing medical care tools are managed with the final approval of health department. Key Words: autonomous hospital, health reforms, nature of autonomy, extent of autonomy, public hospitals