The physician’s opinion about privatization of public hospitals services in makkah city, Saudi Arabia a field in maternity and children hospital

This study intends to discover the opinion of the physicians about the expected effects of public hospital privatization on the provided services to the patient at the Maternity and Children Hospital in Makkah city. This study was conducted using a quantitative approach through using a questionnaire to gather statistical data. This study used a cross-sectional design. We evaluated the relation between the physicians' knowledge about privatization with their answers to the questions in the research domains (the domains are: Physician Perception, Services Improvement, Increase Productivity, and Statement about privatization). The sample size is 217 physicians answering the questionnaire. The number of physicians who agreed to privatization was those who know what privatization means (p=<0.001). Physicians who understand what privatization means were shown to agree with the statement; that privatization will benefit the Saudi healthcare system (p=0.037) and the importance of developing a summary of physicians’ views regarding privatization by the Saudi MOH (p= 0.004). A significant value was shown in the improvement scale respectively (p=0.013, 0.07, 0.026). Privatization would shorten patients' waiting time and improve access to healthcare services, and reduce the waste of resources, consumable items, and drugs. In the general statements scale, the p=0.001 and 0.016 showed significant values; the privatization would give hospitals more flexibility in administration operations and eliminate routine and bureaucracy. We recommend that a longitudinal study be conducted to see the changes that privatization brings to the Saudi health system. In addition, establish and update a database of healthcare workers' opinions.