Management of public health institutes in Serbia

Today, Public Health is more and more recognized, worldwide, as an area demanding development of the vision, advocacy by its leaders and cooperation with the public and private sector. The managing, lecturing and research competency, together with leading competency are essential characteristics needed for the public health professionals. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the assessment of basic characteristics of management at the Public Health Institutes in Serbia (PHIs), including coordination and coolaboration within PHI network and community. The research of the management in the IPHs in Serbia included 179 participants. The research was conducted as a cross sectional study. Specially designed questionnaire was used. Managing staff of the IPHs (directors, assistant directors, and heads of departments) were interviewed. The majority of the interviewed managers are medical doctors with specialization in preventive medicine, while 11.7% of the managers hold the degree of the Faculty of Laws or Economics. Beside regular education, more than half of the managing staff received additional management training (courses & seminars), while 16.0% enlisted in postgraduate management programs. Approximately 40% of the managing staff is satisfied with its social status, while more than one-third is satisfied with its income. While 28.5% managers believe that employees have the complete autonomy in working process, 68% believes that there is only a limited autonomy. That team work and cooperation are well developed in their institutions 68% of the managers reported, while 21.9% believes that the team work is weakly developed. Salaries, interpersonal relations, responsibility and quality of management are reported as basic precursors for motivation of the employees. Although there is a certain degree of coordination and cooperation between PHIs and within the institutions, a satisfactory level has not reached, especially regarding multi sectoral cooperation, as well as the cooperation with nongovernmental sector and local community.