CRC Press Health Service Marketing Management in Africa

Health Service Marketing Management in Africa (978-0-429-40085-8, K402492) Shelving Guide: Business & Management / Marketing Management The application of marketing to healthcare is a fascinating field that will likely have more impact on society than any other field of marketing. It’s been theorized that an intrinsically unstable environment characterizes this very relevant emerging field, hence raising new questions. Changing regulations, discoveries, and new health treatments continuously appear and give rise to such questions. Advancements in technology not only improve healthcare delivery systems but also provide avenues for customers to seek information regarding their health conditions and influence their participatory behaviors or changing roles in the service delivery. Increasingly, there is a shift from a doctor-led approach to a more patient-centered approach. In Africa, the importance of marketing-driven practices in improving the delivery of healthcare services cannot be overemphasized. The issue of healthcare delivery and management is significant for policymakers, private sector players, and consumers of health-related services in developing economy contexts. Scholars have strongly argued in favor of marketing and value creation in healthcare service delivery in Africa. Each country in Africa has its own issues. For example, long waiting times, unavailable medications, and unfriendly staff are just a sampling of issues affecting the acceptability of healthcare services. These examples highlight the need to utilize marketing and value creation tools in the delivery of healthcare services. Furthermore, there is a need for the integration of service marketing and management principles to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare across Africa and other developing economies which is the critical focus of this book. This book responds to calls for quality healthcare service management practices or processes from developing economy perspectives. Focusing primarily on African and other developing economy contexts, this book covers seven thematic areas: strategy in healthcare; marketing imperatives in healthcare management; product and pricing management in healthcare; distribution and marketing communications in healthcare; managing people in healthcare; physical evidence and service quality management in healthcare; and process management in healthcare. About the Author Professor Robert Ebo Hinson is the Head of the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Ghana and Acting Director of Institutional Advancement in the same University. Professor Hinson has been consultant to several local and international institutions in Ghana including Standard Chartered Bank, HFC Bank, CAL Bank, Merchant Bank, the Enterprise Group; and Ecobank. Robert also sits on the board of Camelot Limited (a listed company). Professor Hinson started his professional career in advertising and has since becoming an academic taught a diversity of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Apart from his experience in teaching, Prof. Hinson has a keen interest in research and in recognition of his research productivity, was awarded the 2008 Emerati Highly Commended paper Award for a co-authored paper published in Corporate Governance, the 2009 Journal of African Business Best Paper Award, the 2010 Emerati Outstanding paper Award for a co-authored paper published in the Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing and the Best Paper award in the International marketing track at the 2010 Academy of Marketing Conference at the Coventry University Business School, for another co-authored paper. Professor Hinson is published in or has had papers accepted for publication in rated journals like the International Journal of Public Sector Management, Internet Research, International Journal of Bank Marketing, Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, and the Thund