Social responsibility of hospitals: an Indian context

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the perceived responsibilities of five not‐for‐profit hospitals in Bangalore, India, towards society.Design/methodology/approachThe method used is qualitative design with some quantitative elements. Data were collected through a survey of 79 physicians and 104 managers and other stakeholders of the hospitals.FindingsThe analysis reveals the existence of highly significant differences in the perception about workplace responsibilities between the doctors and other stakeholders. It also highlights the importance of top management involvement with various stakeholders in effectively carrying out the overall social responsibilities of the hospitals. It was found that the hospitals must take into account the social, cultural and financial characteristics of the patients while fulfilling societal obligations. Training needs, environmental impact audit and encouragement for employees to join local voluntary organizations are the immediate needs for improving the CSR activities of the hospitals.Research limitations/implicationsThe study had a small sample and referred only to the perceptions of physicians/management personnel. Further studies should be done with larger samples, comparing different cohorts of stakeholders and, more importantly, patients/their carers.Practical implicationsThe study draws attention to issues that emerge from the social responsibilities of healthcare organizations. Its findings provide new insights into the meaning of social responsibility in the healthcare sector in an Indian context from a stakeholder perspective.Originality/valueThe paper is based on an original study that addresses the current gap in the understanding of issues related to social responsibility by the various stakeholders of hospitals. It is particularly valuable for both the internal and external stakeholders of the healthcare organizations.

Social responsibility of the hospitals in Isfahan city, Iran: Results from a cross-sectional survey

“…This highlighted the importance of top management participation with staff in effectively carrying out the overall social responsibilities of the hospital. The importance of such participation to social responsibility improvement was also reported in Rohini study (35). In this study, the social responsibility of private hospitals was higher than public hospitals.…”

“…This has been shown by Kakabads and Rozuel in one of the local hospitals in France (25). Rohini also surveyed the social responsibility of five private hospitals in the city of Bangalore in India, and emphasized on the hospitals senior management role in social responsibility (35). So it can be said, although there are quiet necessary actions in the hospitals toward achieving the social responsibility, but they are not sufficient; hence, more attempts need to be done.…”

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“…Many terms like corporate citizenship, corporate accountability, business ethics, sustainability, triple bottom line, corporate responsibility, corporate governance, and corporate social entrepreneurship have been used interchangeably by researchers refereeing to CSR (Agrawal & Sahasranamam, ; Aguinis & Glavas, ; Alhaddi, ; Arevalo & Aravind, ; Bhalachandran, ; Cornelius, Todres, Janjuha‐Jivraj, Woods, & Wallace, ; Rohini & Mahadevappa, ). In this study, the term CSR will be used as it is well established amongst law and policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in India and globally.…”

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“…Hospitals must provide good and fair service for their patients. Rohini and Mahadevappa () proposed that hospitals must take into account all patient characteristics (social, financial and so on). Hospitals seek to inspire, support and promote a culture that is people‐centered, committed to quality, accountable and corporate.…”

“…In addition, hospitals must set realistic prices for people who cannot afford services. Other social responsibilities of hospitals include providing workplace safety, meeting workers' basic needs, reducing energy consumption by minimizing waste and recycling materials, and organizing education and research activities (Rohini and Mahadevappa, ). The level of SR refers to the whole contribution of the hospital to society in terms of fair medical treatment, reasonable medical care cost, free or low‐cost medical services for those in need, ethical principles, and maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality (Duggirala et al ., , ) (see Figure ).…”