Health system managerial staffing patterns: Public sector experience from Pakistan

Health system managerial staffing patterns: public sector experience from Pakistan

 Abstract

 

 Introduction
Poor human resource management has been associated with low levels of performance in the social sector in less developed countries.  Study examines the levels and patterns of transfers of senior health care delivery managers in Sindh, a province of Pakistan.

 

Methods: A study of administrative data on transfer and posting was conducted on the 54 top provincial offices in the government of Sindh Department of Health over the period of 24 years (1981-2004).  The data is used to measure frequency and duration of transfers and posting.  Patterns of postings and transfers are presented by gender and by types of governments.

 

Results: There were 689 transfers/postings made in the 54 key offices studied over the 24 year time period.  Out of the total transfers/postings almost half (48.9%) lasted no longer than 1 year. The offices affected highest were tertiary/district care hospitals (54 times) and district health offices (37 times) respectively. The male female ratio of senior management posts was 95:/5. About half of the individuals serving during the study period were posted only once and then moved outside the management in the Department of Health

 

Conclusions: High rate of frequent transfers/postings documented in the study among high level public health care delivery system managers in Sindh, Pakistan.  Pattern of poor governance can be associated with poor ability of the health bureaucracy to delivery health services and programs.  Human resource policy in government bureaucracies should be developed to stabilize professional positions and improve the performance of the health care delivery system.

 

 Abstract word count: 250

 Theme: Public Health

 Key words: Human resources, Deployment, Healthcare system, Pakistan.