<![CDATA[This study aims to examine the effect of medical equipment availability and service waiting time on the satisfaction of suspected Tuberculosis (TB) patients, with staff communication quality serving as a moderating variable at Binaus Public Health Center. The study was motivated by the unavailability of a Molecular Rapid Test (TCM) machine at the health center, requiring patients to be referred to other healthcare facilities for diagnostic testing. This condition prolongs the diagnostic and service process and may reduce patient satisfaction. A quantitative approach with a survey method was employed. Data were collected from 130 suspected TB patients selected using the accidental sampling technique. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4. The results indicate that medical equipment availability has a positive and significant effect on patient satisfaction (β = 0.483; t = 4.505; p < 0.001). Service waiting time also has a positive and significant effect on patient satisfaction (β = 0.327; t = 2.882; p = 0.004). Furthermore, staff communication quality significantly and positively moderates the relationship between medical equipment availability and patient satisfaction (β = 0.182; t = 2.746; p = 0.006), as well as the relationship between service waiting time and patient satisfaction (β = 0.156; t = 2.281; p = 0.023). Therefore, all research hypotheses were supported. This study concludes that improving the availability of medical equipment, particularly the provision of a Molecular Rapid Test (TCM) machine, reducing service waiting time, and enhancing staff communication quality are essential strategies for improving the satisfaction of suspected TB patients at Binaus Public Health Center. The findings are expected to provide valuable input for healthcare managers in improving the quality of primary healthcare services.]]>
