Global health crises reveal critical inadequacies in healthcare facilities, with poor infrastructure maintenance threatening patient safety. Prior studies have often overlooked systemic disparities between developed and developing countries. This study examines the literature on healthcare facility building quality, comparing developed and developing countries. It identifies key factors, critical gaps and thematic differences, providing insights for policy and quality improvement in healthcare environments.
A scoping review using the PRISMA framework analysed studies from 2010 to 2020 sourced from Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Springer, Emerald Insight and Taylor & Francis. Inclusion criteria focused on building quality, user satisfaction, maintenance practices and policy strategies in healthcare facilities across diverse contexts.
The review highlights disparities between developed and developing countries. Developed countries focus on advanced frameworks such as Lean Six Sigma (L6S) and sustainability models. In contrast, developing countries prioritise funding, infrastructure maintenance and user satisfaction. Key gaps include limited research on sustainability practices and proactive policies in resource-constrained settings.
Limitations include reliance on secondary data from 2010 to 2020 and exclusion of grey literature. Methodological variations among studies complicate uniform conclusions. Future research should emphasize longitudinal studies and real-time data collection to address evolving trends.
This study synthesises the literature on healthcare facility quality, emphasizing disparities and methodological gaps. It provides a basis for future research, policy development and quality management strategies in healthcare infrastructure across developed and developing regions.
