Nurses' perspectives on the impact of marketing mix elements (7Ps) on patients' tendency to kind of hospital

BACKGROUND: Marketing mix (7Ps) is a critical concept in healthcare management and health marketing. Hence, this study was conducted to investigating the role of 7Ps on patients' disposition to the kind of hospital from nurses' perspectives. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used in 2015. The study was conducted in one state in Iran (Mazandaran). The statistical population included nurses (n=235) in public and private hospitals were selected randomly through the list. Data were collected by questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22). RESULTS: The results showed that 38.6 percent of nurses were males and the others (61.4 percent) were females. Their mean age was 31.0±7.1 years, and the majority of them belonged to the 30-40 age group. The mean work experience of them was 11.42±6.5 years. The findings showed that there were significant differences between nurses' perspectives in public and private hospitals about the effect of 7Ps elements on patients' tendency to the public and private hospitals (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, the officials of public hospitals should take more attention to the elements like product, place, promotion, people, physical assets and process management more than the past because these elements cause that the patients are disposed to the private hospitals while the government make more investment in public hospitals

Structure, control and regulation of the formal market for medicinal plants' products in Nigeria

Abstract: There are informal and formal markets for medicinal plants' products in Nigeria. The formal market is subject to the national regulatory framework for Food and Drug Administration and Control. It is relatively new and underdeveloped. This study was designed to appraise this market with special emphasis on the market participants, market structure, marketing functions performed, conduct of sellers in the market and; standards and regulations to which the market is subject. Information used for this study was collected through personal interviews and interactions with key participants in the market; especially the officials of regulatory agency. The market structure was analysed in terms of the share of market controlled by participants and product types. Concentration Ratios (CR2 and CR4) were used to assess the market share. Marketing functions being performed were described in terms of the exchange, physical and facilitating functions while the conduct was described in terms of pricing and promotional strategies. The regulatory framework under which the market operates was appraised. The market was highly concentrated with a CR2 and CR4 of 58.5% and 80.8 %; respectively. Imported products accounted for only 12.3% of the market. The predominant modes of presentation of the product were capsule (41.6%) and liquid (36.2%). About 20.77% of the products were classified as multivitamins, 13.85% were antibiotics while 10.77% addressed sexual dysfunctional problems. These products were regulated under the Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) decrees, 1993-1999. Only 2.3% of the products have received full registration status while the others were only listed

Marketization of Health Care: A Critical Analysis

The global economic decline in 1970s and 1980s prompted some developing countries to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank for help to prop up their ailing economies. The IMF/World Bank responded by introducing Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) in these countries. These programmes involved complete overhaul of economic policies. The countries had to liberalise their economies in order to create a conducive climate for investment and growth. This was to be achieved through currency devaluation and abolition of foreign exchange controls; raising interest rates and abolishing subsidies and price controls. The allocation of resources to the social sectors was to be cut. One of the conditions contained in these adjustment programmes was the condition that user-fees be charged for social services