PUBLIC HEALTH PROCUREMENT PROJECT PERFORMANCE- A POLICY FRAMWORK FOR HEALTH SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Abstract Background: Public procurement in the healthcare sector is a crucial function that ensures efficient resource utilization while maintaining transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance. Procurement performance is influenced by various factors, including staff competencies, planning efficiency, and governance structures. Understanding the relationship between procurement practices and project outcomes is essential for improving efficiency in public health supply chains. However, the moderating roles of contract governance and trust in procurement performance remain underexplored. This study evaluates the impact of procurement management practices on public procurement project performance, with a focus on staff competency and procurement planning. Objective: To assess the influence of staff competencies and procurement planning on public procurement project performance and examine the moderating effects of trust and contract governance in the healthcare sector of Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 procurement professionals working in the healthcare sector, with 183 valid responses analyzed. The study employed a structured questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, reliability testing, multiple linear regression, and moderation analysis. Normality, multicollinearity, and homoscedasticity assumptions were tested. The significance of relationships was determined at p < 0.05. Results: Staff competency demonstrated a significant but partial positive impact on public procurement project performance (β = 0.186, p = 0.012), while IT competency showed no significant effect (β = 0.048, p = 0.404). Procurement planning did not significantly influence performance (β = 0.092, p = 0.231). Trust negatively moderated the relationship between staff competency and procurement performance (β = -0.2299, p = 0.0001), reducing the effect of competencies as trust increased. Contract governance did not significantly moderate any relationship. The model explained 40.1% of variance in procurement performance (R² = 0.401). Conclusion: Staff competency plays a crucial role in procurement performance, but excessive reliance on trust can diminish its effectiveness. Procurement planning requires structural improvements, including budgetary consistency and timely allocation, to enhance its impact. Strengthening training programs and implementing e-procurement systems can improve procurement efficiency in the healthcare sector.