Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Does decentralisation improve human resource management in the health sector? A case study from China.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Liu, X; Martineau, T; Chen, L; Zhan, S; Tang, S
Published in: Soc Sci Med
October 2006

A major obstacle to the provision of health services is lack of an effective workforce. Human resource management (HRM) can improve the effectiveness of the workforce, though this is difficult in large bureaucratic organisations. Decentralisation is a common reform strategy and this paper sets out to examine whether HRM would be improved in decentralised settings. Indicators were developed for three areas of HR outcome: (i) appropriate staff numbers, with (ii) appropriate skills and experience, providing, (iii) appropriate inputs to organisational performance. An attempt was made to link these human resource (HR) outcomes to relevant HRM actions in two counties--one richer and one poorer--in Fujian Province, China. One general county hospital and 5 township health centres were selected for study in each country. A health facility-based survey collected information on characteristics of the workforce and staff surveys identified changes in the management of human resources and staff inputs to performance before and after decentralisation. Whilst some benefits were identified from decentralising HRM, the complexity of the decentralisation itself, and other external pressures coupled with inadequate capacity building meant that some HRM actions were not always aligned with health service objectives. Better planning and preparation coupled with strong monitoring would increase the chances of decentralisation improving HRM in the health sector.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Soc Sci Med

DOI

ISSN

0277-9536

Publication Date

October 2006

Volume

63

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1836 / 1845

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Total Quality Management
  • Public Health
  • Professional Competence
  • Personnel Management
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Humans
  • Health Workforce
  • Health Services Research
  • Health Care Reform
  • Efficiency, Organizational
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Liu, X., Martineau, T., Chen, L., Zhan, S., & Tang, S. (2006). Does decentralisation improve human resource management in the health sector? A case study from China. Soc Sci Med, 63(7), 1836–1845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.05.011
Liu, Xiaoyun, Tim Martineau, Lieping Chen, Shaokang Zhan, and Shenglan Tang. “Does decentralisation improve human resource management in the health sector? A case study from China.Soc Sci Med 63, no. 7 (October 2006): 1836–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.05.011.
Liu X, Martineau T, Chen L, Zhan S, Tang S. Does decentralisation improve human resource management in the health sector? A case study from China. Soc Sci Med. 2006 Oct;63(7):1836–45.
Liu, Xiaoyun, et al. “Does decentralisation improve human resource management in the health sector? A case study from China.Soc Sci Med, vol. 63, no. 7, Oct. 2006, pp. 1836–45. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.05.011.
Liu X, Martineau T, Chen L, Zhan S, Tang S. Does decentralisation improve human resource management in the health sector? A case study from China. Soc Sci Med. 2006 Oct;63(7):1836–1845.
Journal cover image

Published In

Soc Sci Med

DOI

ISSN

0277-9536

Publication Date

October 2006

Volume

63

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1836 / 1845

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Total Quality Management
  • Public Health
  • Professional Competence
  • Personnel Management
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Humans
  • Health Workforce
  • Health Services Research
  • Health Care Reform
  • Efficiency, Organizational