Abstract

Background: Health systems in low- and middle-income countries continue to face persistent resource constraints and service delivery inefficiencies that undermine healthcare quality. In Zambia, First Level Hospitals (FLHs) play a critical role in delivering essential healthcare services; however, they continue to experience operational challenges such as prolonged waiting times, shortages of essential resources, and workforce limitations. Despite global emphasis on improving operational efficiency to achieve Universal Health Coverage, there remains limited empirical evidence on the relationship between operational efficiency and healthcare quality within the Zambian context. Methods: A facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Chilenje and Matero First Level Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. A total of 385 respondents, comprising patients, clinical staff, and hospital administrators, were selected using Cochran’s formula. Data was collected using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize key variables, while Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to examine the relationships between operational efficiency indicators and healthcare quality. Results: The findings revealed substantial operational inefficiencies, including prolonged patient waiting times, despite the high perceived affordability of healthcare services. Significant shortages of medical and laboratory equipment, essential medicines, and healthcare personnel were widely reported. Correlation analysis demonstrated significant positive relationships among health system components (r = 0.47–0.62, p < 0.01), indicating strong interdependence within the healthcare system. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that all operational efficiency variables significantly predicted healthcare quality outcomes (p < 0.05), with staff availability (β = 0.30) and medicine supply (β = 0.27) exerting the strongest influence. Patient satisfaction was primarily associated with resource availability and reduced waiting times, whereas affordability was not found to be a significant predictor of healthcare quality. Conclusion: Operational efficiency is a significant determinant of healthcare quality in Zambia’s First Level Hospitals. Strengthening human resources and ensuring a consistent supply of essential medicines represent critical leverage points for improving service delivery. The findings underscore the need for integrated, system-level interventions aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, reducing service delays, and improving patient outcomes in resource-constrained healthcare settings. Future research employing longitudinal and multi-site study designs is recommended to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted operational interventions on healthcare outcomes over time.