Leadership and Management
By Joseph Dwyer and Sara Wilhelmsen
A broken health system is a silent killer. People get sicker and die in disproportionate numbers just as they do during an epidemic. Yet the culprit is not lack of knowledge. Nor is it always a shortage of funds. Technically and medically, we know what to do to reduce illness and save lives. But what is sorely amiss is the dearth of knowledge and skill to manage these very complicated health systems. Dr. William H. Foege sums up the issue as "global health waits expectantly for management to match its science."
Simply put, global health initiatives must recognize the critical need for investing in the leadership and management skills of those running health systems. Doing so is a key step in getting countries back on track towards making progress on the ambitious Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). More important, it is essential if countries are to meet the health needs of their own populations and ensure the sustainability of long-term health interventions.
