Health Care Management Training Needs in Pakistan

The management of health care organisations (HCOs) significantly determines the quality and efficiency of health care delivery in developing countries like Pakistan. HCO managers are needed to plan and execute expansion and corporatisation of private HCOs and to transform public sector charity hospitals to self-sustaining efficient organisations and private clinics into profitable ventures. The objective of this study was to assess the need for health care management training in Pakistan using semi-structured interviews of key informants in different cities. We asked experts about the existing HCO management training opportunities, demand for such skills and its impact on the future of health services delivery. Unanimous support for HCO management training emerged in the wake of dissatisfaction with limited opportunities for such training in the country. The participants agreed that trained HCO managers can help introduce modern management practices in health care service delivery, thereby making the HCOs more efficient and effective. We conclude that well-reputed management schools would be performing an important service to the improvement of the health sector in Pakistan if they can design and offer effective management training programmes for HCOs.