Capacity of senior health managers for health challenges of public health sector reform in Pakistan

Capacity of senior health managers for health challenges of public health sector reform in Pakistan
Abstract
Introduction
Training, skills, and knowledge of managers in the public sector health system are essential to quality, policy and programmes.  The Pakistan public sector health system has serious management problems but there has been little study of its human resources.  This study reports the result of a survey of the fifty-three top administrators/managers in the Department of Health, Province of Sindh Pakistan.
Methods
A survey of top provincial administrators/managers in the Government of Sindh Department of Health was conducted in 2006. A structured questionnaire was sent to all the heads. The analysis examines the number of individuals of different cadres who filled managerial positions, number of individuals and type of qualifications/field of specialization, number of positions and type of any in-services professional training received and positions with type of working experience or special skills.
Results
The survey reveals low levels of formal training of any type beyond basic medical training (M.B;B.S). Eighty percent of the managers report having received no professional in-service training during their service period. The male/female ratio of the health managers was 48/2 (96%:4%). Only six percent had their professional training in administration, eight percent had training in clinical and six percent had other than in public health or a clinical.
Conclusion
Service rules, selection criteria, and the general malaise in the public health sector may be the reasons. More training for health system managers is essential in Pakistan but must be provided in an enabling environment to facilitate much needed health sector reform.
Abstract word count: 247.
Theme: Public health
Key words: Human resources, capacity, health care system, Pakistan.