Professor of Health Administration and Professor of Gerontology in USA, Robert C. Myther, addressing doctors and nursing profession in a session organised by Pakistan Medical Association Karachi at PMA House highlighting significance of physicians in leadership role said this was essential in the interest of patients as well as the healthcare providers themselves.
Elaborating his stance, he said the physicians commanding high respect in any society are registered to be poorly understood and are also unable to communicate with public in most parts of the world.
This is besides the fact that they also hold limited opportunities and capacities to provide all necessary medical support, particularly in a situation where resource-constraint may be a major issue.
Professor Myther said the scenario is changing and can be changed in all parts of the world including developing countries through modifications in the organisational culture and acquisition of leadership skills by the physicians through experimental learning.
Mentioning that managerial skills on part of physicians and other healthcare providers are also important to make optimum and best use of available facilities, professor of health administration said physician equipped with entrepreneurial skill develop core management capacities encompassing finance, operations, marketing and a strategy could make meaningful difference for patients.
"This is because he is aware of the environment, searches for opportunities, able to elicit co-operation, shows initiative, holds ability to persevere, is risk assuming and action-oriented", the speaker said.
What makes the physician executive unique is how much he satisfies his patients, the speaker said adding that physicians are the right person with the right training, right vision to ensure that the right healthcare will be provided in the right way to the right patient at the right time.
Stressing that a physician executive must also be an entrepreneurial leader, the speaker observed that this was important, as an entrepreneur is someone who pursues an opportunity regardless of the resources they control.
Professor Robert also observed that the physician executive as an entrepreneurial leader can also recognise the opportunities that emerge from the interaction between science and technology, creates a "theory of business" that is professionally rewarding, medically relevant and care-oriented.
"He or she on the basis of strategic thinking, organisational capacities and leadership skills can also provide the vision to transform healthcare systems and organisations in accordance with needs of the masses and technological developments," he said.
Later responding to queries raised by audience, he said the issue of low priority to health sector could be contained by physicians and other healthcare providers through their involvement in policy-making procedures.