Marcellinus Chukwuka Ihionu
Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Published : 2 Documents Claim Missing Document
Claim Missing Document
Check
Articles

Found 2 Documents
Search

Strategic Management Deficiencies and Business Failure Among Private Medical Diagnostic Centers in Enugu, Nigeria Marcellinus Chukwuka Ihionu; Alexander Chinaza Aneke
Milestone: Journal of Strategic Management Vol 6. No. 1 April 2026
Publisher : Universitas Pelita Harapan

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.19166/ms.v6i1.10275

Abstract

Private medical diagnostic centers play an increasingly important role in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system, particularly in filling service gaps created by limited public health infrastructure. Despite their growing relevance, many of these facilities experience early business failures, especially in urban healthcare markets such as Enugu State. However, limited empirical attention has been given to the strategic and operational factors responsible for the collapse of private diagnostic laboratories in Nigeria. This study therefore examines the strategic management deficiencies associated with business failure among private medical diagnostic centers in Enugu State. The study adopted a historical case-based research approach, analyzing ten defunct diagnostic centers that operated between 2015 and 2025. Data were derived from archival reports, regulatory records, and secondary literature, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings reveal that business failure resulted from interconnected regulatory, operational, financial, and market-related challenges. Key factors included regulatory non-compliance, weak quality management systems, poor financial planning, high operational costs driven by energy and foreign exchange pressures, and increased competition within the healthcare market. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed resilience gaps in many facilities. The study concludes that strengthening regulatory compliance, improving financial management practices, and adopting digital diagnostic technologies are essential for enhancing the sustainability of private diagnostic centers. The study contributes to healthcare entrepreneurship literature by providing a systems-based explanation of diagnostic facility failure in a developing economic context.
An Assessment of Strategic Management Practices and Organizational Failure in Private Medical Laboratories and Allied Health Centers in South-East Nigeria Alexander Chinaza Aneke; Marcellinus Chukwuka Ihionu
Milestone: Journal of Strategic Management Vol 6. No. 1 April 2026
Publisher : Universitas Pelita Harapan

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.19166/ms.v6i1.10276

Abstract

Despite rapid growth in Nigeria’s private medical diagnostic and allied health sector, many centers in South-East Nigeria continue to experience high failure rates driven by financial constraints, regulatory pressures, infrastructural deficits, technological demands, and broader socioeconomic challenges. This study investigates these multidimensional factors to inform policy development, strategic decision-making, and the long-term sustainability of private healthcare enterprises in the region. Adopting a historical research design, data were collected from ten purposively selected medical diagnostic centers in South-East Nigeria through the review of archival documents, institutional records, and relevant online sources. Content analysis was employed to identify recurring patterns and key themes. The findings indicate that facility closures are primarily associated with regulatory non-compliance, financial instability, and workforce attrition. Key challenges include operating without appropriate licensing, failure to adhere to quality management standards, shortages of essential supplies, high operational costs, particularly for electricity and equipment, and difficulties in retaining skilled personnel due to brain drain. These interrelated factors undermine operational efficiency and expose facilities to regulatory sanctions, financial losses, and reputational risks. The study further reveals that systemic weaknesses, including regulatory gaps, limited access to sustainable financing, and inadequate human resource capacity, threaten the viability of private healthcare providers in the region. It is recommended that policymakers strengthen regulatory enforcement, expand sustainable financing options, and implement targeted workforce retention strategies. This study contributes to the literature by contextualizing healthcare management challenges within a regional Nigerian framework.