Nattaya Pansang. Efficiency evaluation of herbal production in community hospitals : a case study of U-Thong Hospital, Suphanburi Province . Master's Degree(Pharmacy Administration). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Efficiency evaluation of herbal production in community hospitals : a case study of U-Thong Hospital, Suphanburi Province
Abstract:
This study was a cross-sectional descriptive research. The objective was to
evaluate the efficiency of herbal production in community hospitals based on a
production unit perspective. The data of U-thong Hospital in the fiscal year 2003
was used as a case study. The efficiency was evaluated by conducting cost-benefit
analysis, payback period determination, and productivity evaluation. Cost-benefit
analysis as a technique of economic evaluation was used to measure the worth of
the program. The standard method was employed to analyze production cost
covering both direct and indirect costs, while benefits were revenues from sales. To
evaluate productivity, the productivity index formulated by the Thailand
Productivity Institute was used to evaluate the ability on converting inputs into
outputs by comparing with the average of small modern drug industries.
Results revealed that 76 herbal products were produced in the fiscal year
2003. The cost of herbal production was 2,322,521.92 baht, and the revenue was
2,422,848.00 baht. As a result, net benefit was 100,326.08 baht, and benefit to cost
ratio was 1.04. The payback period was 2 years and 6 months. As for productivity
evaluation, it was found that the herbal production was a labor intensive industry
and the ability to use resources for generating profit was equal to the average
obtained from private industry. Regarding sensitivity analysis, discount rates which
varied to 0% and 3% did not change the net benefit to negative value. However, the
10% increased prices of materials used in production process resulted in negative
net benefit. For the payback period, ±10% variation of the number of services
which were applied to production quantity affected only a one-month change while
the assumption on the herbal production as a new investment in the fiscal year 2003
resulted in a payback period of 6 years and 5 months.
These findings indicated that herbal production was worthwhile. The return
period of the program investment was rather short. Moreover, the ability on
generating profit was equal to other manufacturers. However, before generalizing
the results of this study, there were two notes of concern. The first is that this
production unit did not reach GMP standards. Another is that the expense of
marketing activities did not occur at this study site.