Humanized governance of medical equipment: comparative analysis Burkina Faso – Brazil (2019–2022) through the language of the heart
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Abstract
Background: Medical equipment procurement remains a critical challenge in low-resource settings, often hindered by bureaucratic rigidities and poor stakeholder communication. This study explores the "language of the heart" approach—rooted in empathy, participatory dialogue, and collaborative governance—as a lever to improve procurement performance in Burkina Faso’s Boucle du Mouhoun region and Brazil’s underserved areas.
Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed:
- Burkina Faso: Surveys and interviews with 73 stakeholders (health workers, managers, suppliers) across five facilities.
- Brazil: Document analysis of Brazil’s Política Nacional de Humanização (PNH) and related academic literature.
Data were analyzed thematically (NVivo) and statistically (SPSS).
Results:
- Hypothesis 1: Participatory dialogue reduced procurement delays by 20–40% in Burkina Faso and 30% in Brazilian hospitals with institutionalized dialogue cells.
- Hypothesis 2: Transparent communication increased supplier satisfaction (+25% in Brazil) and reduced conflicts in Burkina Faso.
- Hypothesis 3: Trust-building mechanisms (e.g., joint committees) lowered corruption suspicions and improved resource allocation.
Conclusion: The "language of the heart" enhances procurement efficiency by prioritizing human relationships alongside technical processes. While Brazil’s PNH offers a model for institutionalizing participatory governance, Burkina Faso’s experience demonstrates its adaptability to resource-constrained contexts. Future research should test scalable interventions, such as relational indicators in procurement audits.
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References
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